Parade!

July 24, 1969, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Every town loves a parade and folks weren't disappointed when they turned out for the 1969 version of the Prospector Days parade down Main Street.  I love the view of the bikes strewn about, behind the crowd...every kid's conveyance, at least in that era.

Oral History IV

September 7, 1979, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

This is another in Dr. O'Brien's series of oral histories on various topics pertaining to the Twin Cities.  I found this edition, concentrating on life during the Depression to be fascinating, as it is first-hand accounts from folks who lived through the bad times.  My Mom used to talk about hoboes showing up at her back door and her mother giving them something to eat.   After reading all this, I guess that wasn't just idle talk. 

Mural

Jul 1, 2000, Appleton Post-Crescent

A more recent look back, to 17 years ago when the downtown mural made its appearance in what became known as Curtis Reed Square.  Showcasing Menasha's history on an unfolding roll of paper, the ceramic mural at its installation, was said to be the largest outdoor ceramic mural in the United States.

For All Your Summer Needs

July 18, 1958, Appleton Post-Crescent

Not much to go around today, just a pleasant memory of a pleasant pharmacy my family would often do business with...and use to pay the phone bill.  That became one of my "jobs" for many years; my Mom would give me the money to pay the bill and I'd make a detour to Hidde's as I rode from Second Street to my best friend's house on Doty Island.  Good times.

October 25, 1961, Oshkosh Daily Northwestern

Reading Club

July 14, 1958, Appleton Post-Crescent

I can't remember how many reading clubs I joined at the public library over the years.  For me, it was an annual event, trekking down there each summer and coming home with a multitude of books to help pass the time.  There usually were nominal prizes- bookmarks, pencils- that sort of thing, but the appeal to me was just making the milestones I'd set for myself and having my name or record posted for the city to see.  In many cases, progress was measured as a graphical journey on a card or sheet as depicted here.  Space was a popular theme as all of America was in the throes of the space race in the late 50's and 60's. And who didn't want to be an astronaut?  The librarians were only too quick to remind us that to be a good astronaut, one had to be a good reader and the sooner we mastered that and the comprehension of what we'd read, the better!

Nearing Completion

July 23, 1958, Appleton Post-Crescent

When the Menasha school board named this school, it paid tribute to two long-standing Menasha citizens, Mrs. John Clovis and her grandson, Al Grove.  Mrs. Clovis owned a dry goods store on Main Street (remember Grove's Clothing Store?) as well as the farm the school now resides on.  Mr. Grove donated the land in 1948 to the city in memory of his grandmother and his mother, Ida Grove.  As we all know, the remaining land not utilized for the school became Clovis Park.

Oral History III

September 6, 1979, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

This is the third in a series of twelve oral histories that Dr. Michael O'Brien produced for the paper in 1979.  Unions were a fact of life for the mills in the Fox Valley when I grew up, but it wasn't always so.  Harsh words for management from some old timers.  

Hanging Tree?!

July 15, 1962, Appleton Post-Crescent

Even by 1962 standards, when things were commonplace that would never fly today...smoking indoors, kids running around freely unsupervised, no seatbelts...this seems a bit harsh for a family-friendly event.  What was the back story for this?  What did the poor guy do?  Anyone?

Pottery

July 20, 1960, Appleton Post-Crescent

This article from a Prospector Days display, some 57 years ago highlights a rich pottery heritage few realize once existed in Menasha.  We first discussed Mr. Bachelder in my book in 2012.  Born in New Hampshire, Carleton Bachelder came to Wisconsin after learning the pottery trade from his father.  Moving to Menasha in 1850, he opened a pottery business and engaged in pottery manufacture until about 1866.  Afterwards, he maintained a wholesale pottery and glassware business.  His pottery was conspicuous by the elaborate blue floral designs he favored on his jugs, crocks, churns, and pots.

Oops!

July 14, 1962, Appleton Post-Crescent

A staple of summer comedies, a hapless dad forgets to set the brake and watches his car creep into the drink.  In this case, though, it's the real thing.  It's enough to ruin one's day.

Gangway!

July 21, 1965, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

I'm not in this picture, but I certainly could have been...same clothes, same age, same haircut.  Living just a block away from this well and certainly a stop on the way to Jefferson Park, I was only too familiar with the joys of free and ready sources of water on a hot summer day.  I remember one of those big brass bubblers at the southwest corner of First and Appleton Streets and also one downtown on Main Street, right off the bridge where the big Gunderson sign was painted on the side of the building.  Man, that was great!

Oral History II

September 5, 1979, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

This is the second in a series of twelve oral histories that Dr. Michael O'Brien produced for the paper in 1979.  Great takeaway about the old school European work ethic that helped make the area grow and was a part of its continued success. 

History Lesson

June 10, 1962, Appleton Post-Crescent

Perhaps I'm retreading old ground here and you may already know these stories, but it's always nice to check in once in a while and see how Menasha's history is handled by various writers.  Of course, this being my blog, I tend to go backwards than forward, so here today is a little synopsis of Menasha history from Post-Crescent writer Charlie House in 1962.  That year, he travelled around the area and did these mini-histories about local communities every week or so. At some future time, I'll feature the Neenah story, if only for the comparison and because Menasha has been joined to Neenah's hip since the 1850's.  (And for the Menasha purists who may think such a story has no place in a Menasha blog the way some Facebook people think their city's groups are sacred cows, consider it a one day lesson in tolerance and besides, you may learn something.)

Vintage Drive

July 12, 1968, Appleton Post-Crescent

I've always admired the dedication of some members of the community for their hobbies and predilections, to include the vintage clothes, etc. they wear to complete the charade of being in the era one represents.  I have a friend who is a Civil War re-enactor, and needless to say, I do not envy his having to wear a heavy, itchy wool uniform during summer weekends when he is a part of some battle reenactment.  But then he wouldn't be true to his calling then, would he?  More power to him, I say.

American History Dress Up

July 6, 1968, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

What can you say about these young faces?  In the summer of discontent that was 1968, these kids don't have a care in the world, their wide-eyed innocence evident to the camera lens.  Meanwhile, the nightly news on their TV screens brings the darkest aspects of that fateful summer to America's living rooms.  I was going on 12 that year.  And while I was aware of what was happening- the assassinations, the war protests, violence in the streets, riots- that stuff was a million miles away in my mind for this kid growing up in Menasha.  I had my comic books and my Stingray bike and I was content.  In many ways, I was just an older version of these kids.

Debonair Ladies

July 13, 1965, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Let's start the week out with something related to that old summertime favorite, Prospector Days.  These ladies were all set, decked out in their finery from another era.  And their ride, was par excellence, as well. 

Bengston Visits

July 10, 1968, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Interesting photo here, if only for the oddity of it.  I take this as an early NFL merchandising gimmick, the way we see on today's broadcasts that Papa John's is the "official" pizza of the NFL, or the Microsoft Surface is the "official" tablet of the league, for a couple of examples. Now there's a list of Hall of Famers to be sure, on the wall behind Mr. Weber, to include Don Shula, George Allen, and Otto Graham.  Unfortunately, Coach Bengston isn't among them.  (We all know the tough act he had to follow.)  In today's world, the coach would be sitting there with branded apparel, heralding the team's colors and trademarks in all their glory.  But this was still a simpler era when the Lombardis and the Landrys of the league still roamed the sidelines in suits and ties.  And I can't tell you how many of those little plastic footballs I had growing up.

New Brin Bowl

June 28, 1960, Appleton Post-Crescent

Another in a series of infomercials masquerading as news stories in local papers.  You'd think that with all the improvements, to include automatic pin setters, that a photo of the lanes would have been in order, but instead we get a view of the bar area.  Maybe it's a Wisconsin thing.  I can almost smell the stale beer.   

A Fun Holiday

July 5, 1968, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

I trust you all had a great holiday yesterday, one bursting with as much potential as these kiddie rides from '68.  Not sure if the little fellow is happy or not, but his sister looks to be enjoying herself.  (And a correction from yesterday...the news article I featured talked about Menasha High burning in 1937.  In actuality, the year was 1936.) 

Happy Fourth!

July 6, 1964, Oshkosh Daily Northwestern

A look back into the past from a long ago Fourth of July celebration.  Here's hoping yours is as grand a time as early Menasha's was!  Be safe!

Bottoms Up

 July 2, 1978, Appleton Post-Crescent

As I stated last week, it wouldn't be summer without a mention of Twin City Beverages.  But here's where the fun ran out, when the plant closed.  It was the end of an era and another nail in the coffin of small town America, one of so many things we once took for granted that were now gone for good.