Suntime Savings Sale

May 21, 1975, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Just in time for summer and the anticipation of downtown Menasha's sidewalk sale, comes this early taste of the summer of '75, brought to you by the Menasha Business Associates. That WAS a magical summer.  In less than three weeks, I would graduate high school.  The first semester of college was over three months away.  I had a car, a job, a steady girlfriend, and a bunch of guy friends who were like the Three Musketeers, though really there were 6 of us.  For an 18 year old, the world seemed full of promise.

Look Who's Behind the Wheel

May 19, 1966, Appleton Post-Crescent

Seeing this type of steering wheel reminds me of a bit of family folklore I heard a few too many times growing up. My father used to tell, what I took as a cautionary tale as I approached driving age, of how my older brother inadvertently hit the gas instead of the brakes one night in backing out the family car, accelerating rapidly across DePere Street into the neighbor's tree.  In his telling of the tale, my brother returned to our house, shaken, holding the steering wheel in his hand. 

In later years, my brother confirmed that it wasn't the steering wheel at all, but rather, the horn ring, as shown above.  I guess the damage to the back end of the car played second fiddle in this story because that aspect was rather boring, if you think about it.  I mean, didn't we all spend our childhoods laughing at cartoon characters crashing their cars and stagger off, wheel in hand while birds or stars flew around their heads?  Naturally, Dad's version was a more entertaining and alarming version, though I wondered, if through repetition, it just got more and more involved.  Or did he really remember it that way?  In retrospect, hearing the true story wasn't as much fun as the original.  It was sort of like when I learned the truth as to why the final "e" was added to my last name by my Italian grandfather.  But that's a story for another day.

Memorial Day 2017

 

A repost from last year. 

 

The VFW in 2013 said it well.  I cannot improve on this:

Many Americans have forgotten the true meaning of a holiday that we as veterans hold so close to our hearts. For too many, Memorial Day now signifies nothing more than the start of summer and is celebrated with holiday sales. Trips to the lake and shopping extravaganzas have replaced memorial visits, remembrance ceremonies or simply put, a day to reflect upon all of the luxuries—like freedom—that we as Americans enjoy daily.  

As proud veterans, we know the true meaning of Memorial Day. 

On Memorial Day, we honor our fallen comrades of the United States military in the form of remembrance. And with that, comes a deep sense of appreciation for both their selflessness in protecting the land of the free, and for their sacrifice in ensuring it stays that way. 

Each and every American owes a great debt to the courageous men and women who have given their lives to protect our way of life. While giving back to the extent they deserve is impossible, today, we merely attempt our repayment in the form of remembrance. We dedicate this day to them.

As we go about our activities, we should take the opportunity to not only remember the sacrifices of our fallen and mourn their departure, we should celebrate the spirit with which they served and reflect upon their contributions in making America, truly, the land of the free.

The VFW thanks all service members, veterans and their families for their contributions and service to the United States of America.

Poppy

What ever happened to the Memorial Day poppy?  I'm talking specifically about the Buddy Poppy that the VFW used to sell.  Is that still a thing?  I haven't seen one of them in years.  As a boy, it was an annual rite of Memorial Day, heralding the beginning of summer, along with listening to the Indianapolis 500 broadcast on radio while cooking out in the backyard.    Perhaps its the span of years or my location away from the Fox Valley, but I don't see them anymore. I had to Google this photo and learn that, yes, the program does still exist.

So that made me feel better but then I wondered why I hadn't seen them.  Are we as Americans so jaded now that all Memorial Day means is an extra long weekend or an increase in bellowing car salesmen on TV extolling their savings events?  Or maybe we've sort of made up for it with an increased appreciation for the military since the wars and 9-11.  Or does nobody join the VFW anymore, or at least in my area?  Whatever the case, it feels different, when I think about it, and as this blog becomes increasingly more and more about memories of the past, I feel depleted by the absence of this boyhood reminder of what I perceive as a more respectful time.

Poppies or not, please give a little thought to those who sacrificed everything for our freedoms as we enjoy the extra long weekend. 

A Big Heist

April 19, 1961, Oshkosh Daily Northwestern

Larceny appears to rear its ugly head, this day in 1961, just a few blocks from my childhood home.  And, based on the following article, the loot was recovered virtually instantaneously.   Hmmm.

April 19, 1961 Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune

The dates don't add up, as the news articles are dated on a Wednesday and the Wisconsin Rapids article says the loot was recovered two days before on Monday, the 17th.  So when WERE the robberies?  Unless the loot WASN'T at the river bottom with these others, it seems the Northwestern kept the Menasha robberies for a slow news day.  

Luebke's CITGO

May 14, 1968, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

We first encountered Dan Luebke's service station in 2015, remarking how in 1964, he left the comfortable corner of Third and DePere for the Town of Menasha on Racine Road.  During those years, the station changed its name from Cities Service to CITGO, keeping in line with the company's nationwide rebranding, giving a new sensibility to the modern 1960's.

Graduation Gifts 2 (Technology Version)

May 15, 1968, Appleton Post-Crescent

Revisiting the great graduation gifts in store for the graduates of the 1968 high schools of the Twin Cities.  Can't beat the "buy one, get one free" aspect of that free transistor radio along with the portable TV.  Black and white, of course.  But in an age of communal television viewing, it was every kid's dream to have his or her own TV set.  And... no finicky cables or satellite hook-ups to worry about. Just the good old aerial it came with or, if one was more tech-minded...rabbit ears.  After all, this IS 1968. 

Hatch It Yourself

May 17, 1969, Appleton Post-Crescent

Not necessarily related to Easter, but somewhat due to the recent holiday, comes this warm, human interest story which mixes basic goodwill and the chance to learn something new at Gegan Elementary School.  To which I just have to say, Lucky Ducks.  (Ouch, that's some bad punning.)

Congrats, Class of '68

May 15, 1968, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Gift ideas for the recent graduates of 1968 from area merchants.  A bit anachronistic for recent tastes, what with typewriters, tape recorders, and Parker pens leading the field here. Of course, jewelry and a place to put that graduation money is always nice, no matter the year.   

Sitting Room

Interior sitting room at Laemmrich Funeral home at 312 Milwaukee Street, the premier funeral home in Menasha for well over 150 years

Photograph courtesy of the Menasha Public Library

Gift Chairs for "Mother"

April 25, 1968, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

This little item is left over from Mothers Day a few weeks back.  In the ad copy, I'm not sure why the word "Mother" has quotes around it, but then they called that other set, "His and Hers" so it must have been their thing.  As I said a couple of years ago when I found a Menasha Furniture ad for Prospector Days, I didn't remember seeing a whole lot of ads for the store over the years, but this building nevertheless had a long and storied history at its location on the corner of Milwaukee and Chute streets.  In its many incarnations, it was a dry goods store, the first location for the city's public library, a movie theater, and finally a furniture store, before succumbing to urban progress and being razed for a brand new office building.  Over the years, the upstairs offices had headquartered businesses as diverse as attorneys and dentists and even a radio station in its final years. 

Like a Mummy from Egypt

May 2, 1964, Oshkosh Daily Northwestern

I have memories of being bandaged up by my sister, who also attended St. Mary's, albeit in previous years than portrayed here.  Or was it related to her becoming a candy striper at Theda Clark?  Whichever the case, I was a "patient" of hers many times.

New Attire

May 13, 1964, Oshkosh Daily Northwestern

Not to disparage the Menasha Auxiliary Police but their 1964 uniforms look like something an air raid warden from WWII might have worn.  Maybe it's the helmets.  I saw my share of Auxiliary Police in my day, working traffic for parades, etc., but I do not remember these outfits.

Serve Mother the Best

May 7, 1968, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Be it catered or designed in your own kitchen, Wanserski's made sure Mom was taken care of for her special day.  Happy Mother's Day to all!

Sabin on Sunday

May 13, 1964, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

I remember only too well, standing in line down at Jefferson Elementary school for a polio shot.  Later, I remember getting a sugar cube, which I thought was weird, though in retrospect, was rather a humane, wonderful surprise, considering how frightened I was of needles.  My experience pre-dated this 1964 opportunity and I wonder how long this went on into the 1960's.  As the disease isn't in our public consciousness any longer, I was initially taken aback when I saw this in the newspaper.

Society Cites Three

May 15, 1971, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Interesting evening of talk by the historical society on three locals who "done good."  While I even knew about Ms. Kraft as a boy in the '60's, the other artists were not so well known to me.  Of course, that doesn't decrease their contributions to the arts by any stretch of the imagination.

Bring Home Something Good from Best

May 5, 1971, Appleton Post-Crescent

It's a week of Mothers' Day specials for area merchants what with the special day approaching in a few short days.  We first met Best Bakery in 2012: http://menashabook.blogspot.com/2012/11/best-bakery.html

The "It" Girl

June 6, 1928, Appleton Post-Crescent

Before the Brin, there was the Orpheum theater.  The Brin opened at the end of 1928, on Christmas Day, taking the place of the old Landgraf Hotel.  Clara Bow was THE quintessential movie star for her time, but didn't transition well to talking pictures and faded from public view rather quickly.  The trailer for this movie is on YouTube and can be seen at this link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9jYg_Amu_I. Interesting side note that the producer of this film is one Joseph P. Kennedy, father of JFK.  He worked with RKO Studios in the 1920's before turning his attention to politics in the 1930's.                                             
We first encountered the Orpheum in 2013:
http://menashabook.blogspot.com/2013/10/orpheum-theatre.html

Delivery Wagon

A Menasha Wooden Ware employee delivers butter tubs in this undated photograph.  We first encountered the explanation of the butter tubs' popularity in this post from 2012:  http://menashabook.blogspot.com/2012/05/butter-tubs.html.                                         Photograph courtesy of the Menasha Public Library

Battle of the Raven

We've discussed Dendo Island a few times in the last five years of the blog.  As portrayed in the following excerpt, a battle between Indian tribes took place in this area in 1730.  Due to the vernacular of the time, Hewitt's Hill must have been a well-known spot in Menasha, or Doty Island.  However, that description unfortunately doesn't allow me to tell you exactly where that was. An old zoning map from 1931 shows an area called "Hewitt's Addition" from Garfield Avenue south between Randall Street and Railroad Street, so it may have been in this area.

"The Battle of the Raven, 1730, was fought near Washington street. The Fox Fort stood on Hewitt's Hill. The Winnebago Fort was on Dendo Island. The separating stream is now Garfield Street. The battle between these two nations lasted six weeks, until the French Capt. Sier Marin arrived and took sides with the Winnebagos. One morning a raven was seen to enter the Fox Fort, by which sign Marin knew the Foxes had fled in the night." 

from: Historic Sites in the City of Menasha and Near by Region, Publius V. Lawson, LL. B. in the 1920-21 Menasha City Directory


A better quality map (and scalable, too) is available at this link:  http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/13663/

As described at the Wisconsin Historical Society website, "This map is pen and ink on paper and shows part of the city of Menasha, local streets, Dendo Island, part of Lake Winnebago, and part of Little Lake Butte Des Morts. Little Lake Butte Des Morts and Dendo Island are outlined in blue ink. Also included are annotations in red ink and "Summer 1881" is written in black ink."

Smith Library Site

Interesting tidbit of information about the old Smith Library downtown, how that site and nearby real estate held so many historic firsts and became the focal point of the eventual village and city.
from the reverse of a 1974 Map of Neenah-Menasha, compliments of the First National Bank of Neenah, map creator, John Ruhe & Associates

Mail Order Prices

April 9, 1968, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

I've mentioned Tip Top numerous times over the years in this blog, but there's just something about the whole audio hobby experience that brings back great memories for me.  I guess I was kind of nerdy growing up, as my friends would brag about their sound systems the way other guys would brag about their cars.  And with the car culture of the 1960's and early 1970's, you know there was plenty to talk about.  It was enough to just go in the store and drool at the technological marvels within.

To Mother with Love!

April 25, 1968, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Early big gift ideas for Mother's Day from Menasha Utilities, along with cool drawings of their electric and water plants.  Somewhere at home I have a matchbook with the same drawings, more than likely taken from the utilities office on Main Street when I used to pay the electric bill for my Mom.