Holiday Wishes

 

December 24, 1962, Twin City News-Record 

Merry Christmas and holiday greetings from the fine, past merchants of the Fox Cities.  It's a blog tradition to offer these little snippets of greetings and holiday cheer on behalf of the advertisers within the local newspapers.  Most of them are gone now, but we at the blog hope some of these businesses strike a chord with you and give you a nostalgic glow, be it fond memories of the fellowship you shared at a local tavern or perhaps the thought of that first bike you received from the Menasha Bicycle and Toy Shop.  

Thank you once again for making this a successful year.  I'll be back in 2022after the New Year. Until then, we wish you the finest of Christmases and the best to you and yours. 

The Beer of Good Cheer!

 December 29, 1938, Menasha Record

We've encountered Ralph's Beer Depot within the blog previously, way back in 2012, the first time: https://menashabook.blogspot.com/2012/11/ralphs-beer-depot.html.  But I had not heard of Old Town beer, so I had to do a little digging about it.  The label below tells you all you need to know.

Denmark Brewing Company, Denmark, Wisconsin

Toy Town!

 December 3, 1937, Menasha Record

Howley's was the forerunner to Schultz Bros. 5 and 10 store, smack dab in the middle of Main Street for about 45 years before closing in early 1986.  Take a good look at these pre-WWII toys, made of cloth, wood, and tin.  After World War II, toys became increasingly made of that new wonder age material, plastic, and toys as shown in this advertisement were viewed as positively Neanderthal to the new Baby Boomer generation.  Of course, today, having some of these gems would be a big score to collectors and toy aficionados.   

A Christmas Wish from the Heart

 December 24, 1938, Menasha Record

I borrowed this, obviously, from neighboring Neenah's long-standing hardware store, Krueger's.  But in reality, the words do not belong to that fine store, but were copyrighted two years before by a greeting card concern.  And they have been repeated virtually every year since, borrowed liberally by whomever seems to want to use the phrase.  As heartwarming as the phrase appears, it doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of the true meaning of Christmas.  But as the season is meant to be a time of great peace and joy and fellowship towards our fellow man, perhaps it is enough for some that the charm of the season resides in the hearts of all those who do remember their friends.  In this current world of turmoil, we could definitely do worse.  

Anatomy of a Snowstorm

December 7, 1927, Menasha Record

December 8, 1927, Menasha Record

December 9, 1927, Menasha Record

A typical December in the Menasha area as the "Appleton road", or as we know it today as Highway 47 shuts down due to excess snow.  Eventually, this stretch of road, at least within Menasha, was named as "Appleton Road."  The Record, did its best to keep people informed.  "Autoists," as drivers were known then, had to rely upon their local newspaper for news of the road reopening because, as we know, cell reception in 1927 Menasha WAS pretty weak.  Seriously though, radio was not the mature medium it later became and news was not instantaneous as today.

Automatic Sleeping Comfort

December 20,1947, Menasha Record    

Electronic and appliance gadgetry for Christmas is the watchword at Drucks this 1947.    Styles may have changed since 1947 but these are timeless things in that there's always going to be some type of coffee maker, electric razor, toaster, and a device to produce music.  Some of the products offered here seem positively prehistoric now, but they were state of the art for that era.   I don't think electric blankets have changed that much since their invention, though I could be wrong.      

Christmas Special

December 23, 1939, Menasha Record

Back when long distance calling was a "thing," consumers really had to pay attention to the rates because those charges could really pile up.  In today's day of unlimited calling via cell phone, no one gives a second thought about it, unless they need to call internationally perhaps.  Back in the day, the local phone directories had charts in the front of the books with rates in state and out of state to the big cities like New York, Chicago, and L.A. to give one an idea of what they faced if they called there.  I don't necessarily miss those days, but it sure made for shorter calls.

A Union Girl

January 5, 1865, Island City Times

In the Yuletide spirit during the Civil War, comes a local Neenah girl imploring her local citizens to write to those local soldiers helping to save the Union.  At first glance, it is a nice Christmas gesture but then it becomes more about helping to save their moral souls.  While her motives are pure, I do not think that regular letters from Mother and Father might be enough to salve the weary constitution of the fighting solider and keep him "safe" from the "drunkenness and profanity of camp."   Nevertheless, take a moment to admire the flowery prose of this mid-19th century writer.  I'm sure she was a faithful sister and generous friend to her correspondents, despite her temperance leanings.  

A New Look for the Square

 December 1, 1969, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

1969, a time for change in the way Christmas is represented in the downtown.  More festive? Perhaps.  Less traditional?  Sure.   But we still look for change while holding on to the traditional.  Less CAN be more; the meaning is still always there beneath the distractions of the season.  Elaborate Christmases of the past flow into a simpler state as we grow older.  We value the tinsel less and embrace our loved ones more.  Gifts become mere props, as all we really want is our families near.   Decorations, while pretty to look at, become simply a signpost for the season, denoting the beginning and conclusion of our yearly quest for the kindness and joy this time of year can bring.  Were it so that those feelings and desires could last throughout the year, we'd be better for it, indeed.

Santa Shops Menasha Dry Goods Company

December 21, 1927, Menasha Record

219 Main Street was the home of this retailer, situated in the Tuchscherer's block, across the street from Grove's Clothiers.  I love the part of the ad that tells the reader to run down to the store because they will be simply enthralled with what they see and how the emptiest of Christmas lists will be ultimately filled.  For 1927, that's pretty innovative copy.  

Treats for the Children

 

December 1, 1969, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

We've been dealing with themes about Christmas ever since Thanksgiving and we have touched upon the subject of Santa's Gingerbread House.  So, here it is, as posted in Bowlby's ad from 1969.  As evidenced in past blog posts, the house resided in different locations within the downtown area and in this year, Bowlby's was fortunate enough to have it situated next to its store.

Melodies for Christmas

 

                                                                                    December 19, 1924, Menasha Record

The Menasha Music Shoppe was located at 177 Main Street, which has the same address as the Hotel Menasha.  And since the hotel barber shop and cigar stand had the same address as well, there must have been some extra space for a purveyor of fine music to sell their wares.  The artists featured here are not household names by today's hindsight, though I cannot vouch for their popularity in 1924.  For all I know, they could have been very popular. Radio had not hit its heyday as of yet so as years go on, more and more Americans will be exposed to commercial radio big bands and orchestras and that will fuel another rise in record sales.

City Hall

Every now and then I feel the need to remind our blog followers of the once-stately city hall Menasha used to have.  This view is from about 1908.  Over time, the city offices moved elsewhere, the grand tower above the building was removed for safety reasons and by the mid 1980's, the building was on its last legs before it was demolished.  Yes, there were some efforts to preserve it.  We reported in October about a proposal for it to become a restaurant but that also fell through.  Still, we appreciate this grand old building for its beauty and for what it meant to Menasha.

Case Dismissed

                                          

                                                                                    December 23, 1918, Menasha Record

John Strange, noted industrialist, president of the John Strange Paper Company, and a one-time Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin was a strident supporter of Prohibition.  This article reflects the aftermath of a speech he gave where he likened the major brewers of Milwaukee to our enemies in Europe during World War I, saying, "the worst of all our German enemies, the most treacherous, the most menacing, are Pabst, Schlitz, Blatz and Miller."  As evidenced above, Mr. Pabst was not amused.  Personally, I do not follow the judge's reasoning for dismissal of the suit, though one might surmise it might have seemed to be a frivolous lawsuit to him or perhaps he read the political waters and felt it best to have the whole thing disappear.  

Give a Useful, Practical Gift to the Home!

December 8, 1927, Menasha Record

Menasha Furniture offers a vast variety of Christmas gifts because they ask, in another ad, why not consider a furniture store when giving gifts?  Of interest to me is the children's furniture containing nursery rhyme characters, sort of an endorsement to the idea of kids having a childhood as we now know it.  It wasn't that long before the date of this ad when children were routinely working in factories and at other jobs, foregoing school to help contribute to the family's upkeep.  And though a congressional amendment was first approved by Congress in 1924, it wasn't ratified by the required number of states until 1938 to become law.  And while that law placed limits on many forms of child labor, agricultural labor was still excluded.  

Set in Stone

November 25, 1970, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Fifty years is a long time and is it no wonder things evolve, even in education?  Starting life as a junior high, Maplewood is now a middle school, according to the Menasha School District web site, serving grades six through eight, whereas the junior high had taught students in grades seven through nine.  According to my newspaper research, Maplewood then became a middle school in 1991, reopening after being used for a time by the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley.  But then, around the mid 1990's I see it once again being referred to as a junior high.  I'm confused by all the back and forth.  Needless to say, things change.  

Golden Egg Pocahontas

From the 1938 Neenah-Menasha City Directory comes this ad.  I guess I didn't know the popular types of coal, as I had no idea what this ad was talking about .  But a little more research yielded the following:  

January 8, 1938, Menasha Record

So, I guess there's more to coal than I ever knew!  A bit more searching yielded the information that there was a Pocahontas coal field in western Virginia, near its border with West Virginia  where this coal came from.  The coal was popular because of its smokeless nature...in fact, the US Navy in World War II was a big customer as its coal-driven ships valued this fuel as it didn't give off a smoke "signature" to the enemy.  What you can't all learn from such an innocent ad.  

Hail, Santa

 

November 25, 1961, Oshkosh Northwestern

Santa moves into Menasha's famous gingerbread house for the first time in 1961, delighting the hearts of local children.  In years to come, that gingerbread house will be moved around to various locations in the downtown area, but never wavering will be the enthusiasm shown by visitors to the jolly old elf inside.  Coming soon on the heels of Thanksgiving, the holiday has traditionally been a launching pad for the Christmas merriment to come.

Thanksgiving Punch

November 24, 1909, Menasha Record

Before we leave Thanksgiving totally behind, let's peruse the menu at the Hotel Menasha, 1909-style, for the feast that day.  I must say, there ARE some things on this menu that I do not recognize at all, but it does remind me of those "Gilded Age" menus I'd seen in past reviews of the 1880s and 1890s in Boss Tweed-era New York, steamship round of beef and that sort of thing, feeding the robber barons and big bellied financiers with their pocket watch chains pulled snugly across their waistcoats.  I always found it humorous to dictate, down to the nth degree, those little things like mints and mixed nuts that one just assumes would be there but were felt important enough to be included by the maitre d.  One would not hinge his or her dining decision on such mundane details, but it mattered to some people evidently.  By the way, "Saratoga chips" are better known today as potato chips, a one-time specialty that we just take for granted now..

That Time of the Season

November 30, 1966, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

With Thanksgiving behind us now, can Christmas be far behind?  This is the time of the year when that next major of holidays is thrust upon us via the media, but also via little local reminders like this.  The decorations and the downtown itself may have changed over the years, but the meaning is always the same.  That clock is ticking and it'll be here before you know it!

Floral Gifts

 

November 23, 1948, Menasha Record

This florist makes a good argument to reward the host or hostess with a plant or flowers for having you over for Thanksgiving dinner.   And it's probably less controversial than bringing the wrong bottle of wine, or insulting them if they don't partake of the grape.  

The blog is going on hiatus for the next week.  So, until we return the week of November 29th, we wish you the happiest of Thanksgiving holidays.  Our best to you and yours!

Kiddie Time

November 23, 1948, Menasha Record

What a great babysitting service the Brin did by providing a kid's program in conjunction with the Thanksgiving holiday.  It wasn't touted as such, but it did give busy Moms a chance to do other things, like maybe putting more money into the local economy by doing some Christmas shopping while the kids were being entertained.  I'm sure somebody from the Menasha Businessmens' Association saw the benefits in that and practically begged the local theaters to open up for such a program.  Special note: notice all the neighborhood groceries that were still resident in Menasha, from where the free tickets were available.

The Best of the Aristocracy

 

November 23, 1931, Menasha Record

Keeping with our Thanksgiving theme, again from 1931, comes this ad for Beck's Meat Market.  There were many butchers and meat markets in Menasha but Beck's was likely the most well-known, if only for its prime location on Main Street, now housing the Weathervane restaurant.  Founded around 1873, the market lasted until 1960 and was noted for the steer's head at the top of the building.  That steer is long gone, but it certainly made for interesting architecture downtown for many years.

Elegant Tableware

November 23, 1931, Menasha Record

Mr. Swenson was a jeweler in Menasha at 209 Main Street for about thirty years until his death in 1939.  His shop was in the Tuchscherer's block where the ladies' shop, Polly Frocks, later located.  When it comes to jewelers, fine silver dinnerware doesn't exactly come to mind, for me.  So, it seems ingenious, from a marketing point of view, to tie this in to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.  Even a few sales would make the effort all worthwhile.  

Enjoyable Affair

 November 21, 1891, Saturday Evening Press

Veterans Day is now in our rear view mirror, but it isn't too late to reflect on this event which turned into a celebration of freedom for one of Menasha's own.  With so many historical events, the further back in the past it is, the easier it seems for me to forget that we're talking about real people with real life experiences to comment about.  It is hard for me to imagine living in proximity to an Andersonville survivor from the Civil War, much less being able to converse with him about his experiences.  But these Menasha residents from 1891 were able to identify with Civil War veterans because the conflict wasn't that long ago and many who served were still around, much like myself growing up around WWII and Korean War veterans.  God love 'em all, each and every one of them.

Pensive Waiting

 November 21, 1979, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

We close the week with this human interest entry from the Northwestern.  Wondering so badly what that sign says taped to the front door, but I cannot decipher it, no matter how much I zoom in.  I'd like to know what business this was on Main Street.  Readers...any thoughts?  

Veterans Day

November 12, 1968, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

This particular Veterans Day observance must have been especially hard, what with all the upheaval and discord across the country.  Think of 1968...the losses of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy, the Chicago riots at the Democratic National Convention, the still raging war in Vietnam.  What must have been going through the minds of these veterans assembled, not just in Menasha's downtown but everywhere in America?  Still, their intentions were resolute, their hearts were true, honoring those who had come and gone before, whatever the political climate.    

Please take a moment today to think about the veterans who served to allow you your freedoms.  Thanks.

 

Gather While Ye May

                                                        November 26, 1986, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

With Thanksgiving almost upon us, we look back at some of the good works our young people are capable of.  This time of year brings forth the spirit of giving, feeding the hungry and the homeless.  It's especially noticeable at Thanksgiving and Christmas time, during the colder months and the local airwaves are awash with feel good stories of such food drives and Toys for Tots-like campaigns to better people's lives.  Our local schools were not immune to the lure of this as well, as evidenced in the above photo.  Far be it from me to be cynical about these good works, for they perform a valuable public service, but sometimes I wonder about the public nature of such campaigns.  Are we doing it for the good of the deed or for the recognition of it?  With the preponderance of social media today, every move of certain people is carefully catalogued and curated to enhance their narrative and grow their "brand."  Seriously?  Whatever happened to anonymous giving?  I'm not a religious person and I'm not good at Bible verses but isn't there one about doing charity in secret because God will see it anyway?   I'm sure these kids had the best of intentions with their student council project.  I'm just commenting on what I see.  Now, I'm getting down off my soapbox.  

Be Careful What You Wish For....

 

This page from the 1935 Menasha High yearbook, The Nicolet, where its editors pleaded for a new and improved school building, was surprisingly prophetic.  As most of us know, the school burned the very next year in March of 1936. The fire’s exact origin is unknown, but it was thought to have started in the machine shop. To keep the school going, classes were distributed among the remaining schools and other public buildings until the new high school could be completed in 1938.  Despite the tone inferred from the yearbook, plans were already in motion to design and build a new school at the time of the fire, though funding had not yet been finalized. Still, this added footnote by the yearbook gives the event an eerie circumstance the school did not deserve.

Oh, My...

November 15, 1968, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Let's start the week on a humorous note with our diver in training having a moment.  Assuming this isn't staged, the photographer, with his fast shutter speed, caught his subject's candid expression at the most opportune moment of all to place this photo into competition for the pic of the week category.   I'm sure the YWCA diving team had a great laugh over this for weeks on end.  

Wee Nippee

November 18, 1961, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

It's not often we get a glance inside the Wee Nippee lounge in the Hotel Menasha.  But, things happen, and the end result is this.  And in spite of what the Northwestern thinks, there are two "e's" at the end of "Wee Nippee."  

I think the owner of the establishment would know the intended spelling.  

Gilbert's, Part II

 

November 15, 1961, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Nicolet sixth graders continue their tour and learn how lined paper is made, something they are intimately familiar with as a finished product.  I wonder how many of these kids were inspired by the science of papermaking and entered careers in the paper industry.  

Slurry With the Fringe on Top

November 15, 1961, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

I know the tour guides prompted the kids to do this little demonstration, but in the absence of that, some stalwart student might have dipped his fingers in the slurry anyway and discovered it for himself.  Like the kids in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the heart wants what the heart wants, and temptation is sometimes overwhelming, as we know.  That fella on the extreme right is especially proud of his find.  We'll have more from this field trip later this week.

Literary Stand-Outs

November 23, 1981, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Adorable first graders from Clovis Grove dress up as their literary heroes at their school library during Book Week.  If memory serves me correctly, I was a fan of The Fire Cat as well.  Pickles the cat gets adopted by the firehouse and makes good on his plan to be a good fire cat for the other firefighters.  See, how those stories stick with you?  Just don't ask me about other favorites, Scuffy the Tugboat or Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel.

Fun Stuff

 November 13, 1969, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

There's a lot to unpack (and a whole lot of fun) in this compendium of articles from the local newspapers from a century ago.  Evaluating this era with the modern age is often like comparing apples and oranges, yet it is an irresistible premise.  Over time we can see the evolving loosening of social mores while the late 19th century maintains a stranglehold on social decorum and telling it like it is in a moment in time.  While euphemisms abound aplenty there is still an honesty evident that is often lacking in modern news reporting.  The word "amused" is apropos for those inclined to make a deep dive into the past via their local library's microfilm collection of historic newspapers.

Another Lost Chance

October 16, 1985, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Over the years, Menasha has had many ideas to reinvigorate the city center, from plans for a downtown "mall," to relocating the business district to Broad Street, to even this idea.  And that's not to say these ideas were bad.  it's just that, sometimes in the planning stages, one learns that there are insurmountable obstacles that stand in the way of the idea being realized, be it something like hazardous asbestos that must be removed or learning that the property is just too far gone to renovate it in a cost effective manner.  Sadly, for the fire station, that restaurant never did come to pass and the whole building met the wrecking ball in 1988.  In subsequent years, Menasha would face the demise of more and more historical buildings being razed, to include the Hotel Menasha, a couple of banks, the Brin Theater, and an entire lock of Main Street in the heart of the retail area.  This blog will not pass judgment on these actions, but rather just make the reader aware of them, as if he or she isn't already cognizant of these changes.   But as was said before, things aren't as simple as they appear to the layperson.

School Spirit

October 21, 1972, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

While the visiting lion from yesterday was holding court at Bowlby's downtown, my very own Sophomore class was raising the roof at the St, Mary's gym for homecoming.  I can name every face in that crowd and probably make good educated guesses at even the obscured faces.  That was the beauty of a small class...everybody knew everybody else.  It's rather difficult to maintain anonymity when there's only 100 or so kids.  

Our rescheduled 45th reunion was a few months ago and some of these same faces reappeared then, albeit aged with time, a little heavier, a little grayer, a little balder.  But our enthusiasm ran high, nonetheless, just as the caption says.  Just look at the practice we had.

Attention Seeker

October 21, 1972, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

As if the spectacle of using this big cat to tout one's sale at a local candy store wasn't enough, well then, leave it one of Menasha's own to want to walk this huge feline around town. Why, it'd be the ultimate one-upmanship.  Imagine this guy walking into his favorite watering hole with this critter at the end of a leash. His friends would absolutely roar with delight. And I ain't lion.

Parents Pay

                                                        

October 31, 1932, Menasha Record

Stern warnings were issued from the Menasha Police Department regarding any anticipated bad behavior during Halloween. In my mind, it was a common sense interpretation of the law regarding what kids are liable for, or, in these cases, what the parents will take responsibility for because of their kids' bad behavior. 

Collectibles

 November 16, 1961, Appleton Post-Crescent

My family was a big proponent of the grocery premiums of the 1950's and 60's, where one would amass a set of encyclopedias one volume at a time, or, in this case, these dishes on a weekly basis.  I always envied the kids who had the first-rate World Book encyclopedias in their homes while I had to make do with the green bound Funk and Wagnalls in our bookcase.  Of course, the World Book had cool color photos and my childish brain likely couldn't get around the fact that this shouldn't have been the deciding factor on an encyclopedia.  Anyway, my Mom collected so many of these Currier and Ives dishes from the A&P just across the tracks in Neenah near the old train station, that I believe she could have served a state dinner on behalf of a grateful nation.  I'm sure many of the blog's readers can identify with these promotions from a time when groceries as well as gas stations gave away dishware, glasses, etc. to entice shoppers to their businesses. 

 January 18, 1961, Appleton Post-Crescent