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!
Before Dr. Salk developed his highly effective attenuated polio vaccine in 1955, late July and August was "polio season." Fearful mothers kept their children from any crowds, especially playing with other children, even best friends and neighbors. We sat on opposite curbs and talked, played catch, played word games etc., but never touched. To our parents horror two kids on adjoining blocks, both friends of mine, caught "it." The rumor was that the virus was carried in "city water." We boiled our drinking water and to be extra safe chilled, boiled drinking water was also obtained from that pump by the water tower. There were often a dozen or more people standing in line in the evening waiting to have their gallon milk bottles filled with cool well water. I guess the era predates today's ubiquitous plastic bottles of mountain water probably filled with a garden hose out west somewhere.
ReplyDeleteJim Krahenbuhl
Your comment reminds me of the HIV/AIDS fears of the 1980's. Remember how Ryan White was ostracized? I lived in Indiana during that time and recall only too well his ordeal. Every generation has its waves of hysteria, I guess and the fear of the unknown makes people do some heinous things. But what is scarier is that it seems folks nowadays are even more willing to go the extra mile in their abysmal behavior, putting all sensible minded people at risk.
ReplyDeleteI drank from that pump many times, and I lived in Neenah. My cousin lived near there though. My first drink very well could have been in 1965.
ReplyDeleteMarching band practice... Occasionally Mr Gilligan, St. Mary's band director, would march us past this spot while getting us ready for the Memorial Day parade. That well water was so tempting to break rank and get a cool drink on a warm May afternoon. Never did it. I didn't want to incur the wrath of our peerless conductor!
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