Containers and a Whole Lot More!

February 21, 1981, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

From its days making pails, tubs, buckets, and barrels to today's modern corrugated and plastic containers, the Menasha Corporation has progressed in ways its founder could never have imagined.  This 1981 advertisement gives a good overview of what the company had become up to that point. 

On Occasion, Baking Can Get Tiresome....

January 28, 1966, Twin City News-Record

A block from my house, and right across from St. Mary's, Best was a part of the lives of all St. Mary's students as it became the default hangout for the smokers and anybody else who was trying to ditch school or forget about it for a little while.  Despite that, it WAS the best bakery in town, no pun intended!   We first met Best Bakery in the blog in 2012:   http://menashabook.blogspot.com/2012/11/best-bakery.html

Olympic Glory

February 22, 1980, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Banta Elementary had the Olympic spirit in 1980, when the school held its own version of the Winter Olympics.  In case you've forgotten, this was the Olympics where the US won the gold medal in hockey.  In 1999, Sports Illustrated named the "Miracle on Ice" the top sports moment of the 20th century.  A big deal, all around.  

Steam (Smoke) on the Water

February 24, 1979, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Familiar scenery along the Fox River, just perfect for an article devoted to Menasha's industrial presence in the valley.   Of course, the title of the post reminded me of the 1970's Deep Purple song, "Smoke on the Water."  I've got nothin' today.

Unusual Birdhouse

March 9, 1979, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Let it not be said that this blog is not the repository, at times, of some strange things.  I'd seen many a beer can collection in my time, as well as some strangely crafty crocheted hats, featuring beer cans, largely of the PBR and Miller varieties.  (I think that was a short-lived fad in the '70s, so the time frame for this little gem fits in quite well.)  But I hadn't witnessed a beer can birdhouse until I ran into this item the other day. Mr. Rogers was right...it's something nobody else had.

Calder Snow

March 10, 1979, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Spring is still about a month away but this familiar sight will more than likely linger past that date.  After all, it's winter in Wisconsin.  What more can I say?

A Tale of Two Bridges

February 24, 1966, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

With the two bridges linking Menasha with Doty Island, what affects one affects the other, obviously.   Even routine maintenance causes delays and tie-ups.  But look at all the old vintage cars from the big three automakers; not a foreign car in sight.

A Valentine's Leftover

February 8, 1989, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

February is American Heart Month and we just had Valentine's Day, so why not bring out one more heart-oriented theme?  The first graders from thirty years ago are now today's mid-30 year olds and most likely encouraging their own kids to get involved in their communities.  It sounds like Gegan had the right idea to celebrate February by "taking heart" on all sorts of topics.

Presidents Day

February 23, 1938 , Appleton Post-Crescent

Back before President Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays were combined to make a Presidents Day, Menasha pupils used the occasion to display some patriotic fervor for the father of our country.  And a Happy Presidents Day to you all!

BoM Staff

February 21, 1981, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

The staff of the Bank of Menasha wish you a happy Friday, looking as 1981-ish as they can be.  We've been discussing the Bank of Menasha for as long as this blog has been in existence.  Among other stories, we've highlighted the dramatic renovation that took place in 1962:  https://menashabook.blogspot.com/2015/06/new-bank-of-menasha-opens.html

Young Love

February 10, 1971, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Cupid's arrow finds two young Menasha sweethearts, who apparently were neighbors, as well.  And as for sentimental grandmothers...that might have worked in 1971 but I wondered if, over time, the Valentine's demographics have changed.  According to 2016 statistics reported by fundivo.com, 25-34 year olds spend the most on the holiday; those aged 55+ spend the least.  Apparently, times do change.

Valley Fair Re-Do

February 21, 1981, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

We haven't featured Valley Fair in quite a while and when we did, it was usually in regards to its heyday in the 1950s and 60s.   Today, we turn to when the mall was renovated in the early 80s, right before things got quite drastic with the development of the Fox River Mall that arrived in July of 1984.  Of course, we know the story of Valley Fair, of how it struggled for years afterwards.  It is quite hard to compete with what became the largest mall in Wisconsin.

Slalom Course

February 20, 1980, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

The temperature was a balmy 34 degrees this day in February when the heavy machinery came out on Main Street.  Not much of a story here, but an enjoyable picture showing some of the commerce of Main Street in past years in the background. 

Celebrating a Milestone

February 24, 1979, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

If you're wondering why we're celebrating 74 years here instead of 75, this article was part of a "progress" package that the Northwestern published and, presumably, this success story for Menasha needed to be told in that issue.  This article provides some fascinating historical details...for example, that the store used to house the city's movie theater and that Mr. Saecker was an embalmer.  It is easy to forget that many, if not most of the early undertakers were furniture makers because building caskets was a logical extension of their business. For them, undertaking was a second business rather than a primary profession.  No doubt you'll recognize the name of his associate, Mr. Laemmrich, who carried on in the funeral business in Menasha.

Thin Ice Danger

February 4, 1982, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

I cannot let the winter go by without at least one photo of Little Lake Butte des Morts and its ice fishing shanties.

Fire Revisited

January 20, 1984, Twin City News-Record

We've talked about this fire in the past, but hadn't had a photo from this vantage point before.   Featured in the "Glancing Backward" feature of the News-Record, this image brings the idea of "cold" to a whole new level.

Newspapers for the Taking

 

 July 19, 1980, Twin City News-Record

I was taken by this article, at the mere thought of such a bonanza available to anybody, especially to a guy like me who likes local history.  But, alas, I missed my opportunity, being out of town on Uncle Sam's dime in those days.  And at that age, I might have passed on the opportunity anyway, as my interests have evolved over the years.  At the ripe old age of 23 (I had hair!), and I was still impressed with my youth and what that might entail, so I know I would have taken the attitude of the newspaper that hey, the future is here and we don't need these old war horses around any more.  Of course, that the future was microfilm, for that day and time seems quaint by today's technological standards, but then progress is measured in drips and drabs at times and I remember enough Army initiatives for the time that entailed such "advances."  

Well, kudos to the News-Record all those years ago for not just pitching the volumes into the dumpster out the back door.

Yucks for You

 February 12, 1943, Appleton Post-Crescent

Some collect coins, some collect stamps.  This man collected jokes.  There's probably a joke buried in that story, as well.  A joke collector walks into a bar....

Brigade History

February 1, 1975, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

While not Menasha oriented per se, at least geographically, Menasha boys belonged , too.  And as the organization grew, a few years later than this article, girls were admitted in 1979 and the name became the somewhat clunkier sounding Boys' and Girls' Brigade.  Still, the leader development.and fellowship afforded by the organization is so much more beyond any name awkwardness.

One With "Heart"

February 7, 1967, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Well, it's February now and we all know what that means...time to start planning to remember that special one on Valentines Day.  In '67, Menasha residents had it all down pat, just go down to the Sweet Shop and everything you needed was well at hand. It sounded like a one stop headquarters for all things Valentines.