Icy Tomb

February 2, 1977, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

From the same issue of the Northwestern from two days ago, this photo adds to the view of the winter of 1976-1977 for the area.  Have a great wintry weekend!

Per Annum

February 9, 1935, Menasha Record

As a matter of public record, the city would publish the salaries of its employees and elected officials every year.  The 1935 salaries are listed above.  Of interest, I note Section 4 which allots a ten day vacation each year, but as a period of respite from city duties WITHOUT pay.  Ouch!  I'm not exactly sure yet when paid vacations finally came into vogue for city employees but a quick check of the newspaper archives reveal that at least by 1953, two weeks of vacation WITH pay WAS available to full-time employees after reaching one full year of service.  For the 1935 crowd, it made a great argument about having some discipline to save up, if possible, in order to have any kind of time off.

A Mountain of a Throw

February 2, 1977, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Looking so much like scaling the Rock of Gibraltar from the old Prudential ads, these kids are (literally) having a ball at Clovis Park.  No doubt in today's litigious world, the playground monitor at recess would have a heart attack if this were attempted.  But, as with so many anecdotes about "back in my day," I'm confident that some readers of this blog likely engaged in even more riskier behavior than this and lived to tell the tale.  I know I did.  

Whiting Revisited

January 13, 1961, Twin City News-Record

Presenters who were personally touched by the Whiting disaster tell of the tragic accident this night in August 1961 at the historical society gathering at the Menasha public library.  If this piques your interest, more coverage of the disaster can be found at this link: https://menashabook.blogspot.com/2019/09/awful.html or insert the term "Whiting" on the "search this blog" bar to the right. 

Downtown 1957 (and today)

Here's another downtown picture, circa 1957, taken from the vantage point of approximately the old 1st National Bank.  Despite a few alterations to the city "square" area and changes to the store fronts, these buildings remain to this day.  

Photo courtesy of Google Street View

Another Day in the Books

Let's end the week with another gem, this time from the 1957 MHS yearbook.  Blame the yearbook staff for the rough merge of the photo to fit on two pages, but you get the drift.  This tableau was what you saw when you opened the cover to the book that year and was also the closing image for the book.  Curious guy that I am, I researched and learned that these two pages are known as the "pastedown end paper" and the "free endpaper."  (My father, a bindery employee at Banta's would have been proud.)  Whatever the case, I took this image to be the end of yet, another school day, and perhaps the end of a long week for them as well.  I'll see you next week; have a great weekend!

Menasha 1959

Here's a great aerial photo of Menasha's downtown, circa 1959.  Follow the route to downtown from the lower right corner where the Post Office sits on Racine Street.  Move left in the photograph towards the bridge and turn right on to Main Street. You can see the Menasha square (flagpole) in the left mid section of the photo, right in front of the older version of the Bank of Menasha.  If you know what you're looking for, you can spot other major landmarks like the First Congregational Church at Milwaukee and Broad Streets, the old public library on Mill Street, and the old city hall/fire department just past the Bank of Menasha. Today, a photo like this would be easy to take, what with drones armed with digital cameras.  This took an airplane or helicopter to get, so its rarity is valued and no doubt cost the city government a considerable sum, if they commissioned it.  

New Outfits

January 27, 1943, Appleton Post-Crescent

We've had a lot of Menasha High material here at the blog lately, so why not one more?  Reflective of the fashion of the time, the new cheerleader outfits follow suit (no pun intended).  

The Most Exciting Bargain Bazaar of the Year

January 2, 1964, Appleton Post-Crescent

As evidenced by this two page spread, Valley Fair had it all covered in early '64...from clothing to hardware to electronics to furniture to big appliances.  Heck, they even had a lunch special at the Birchwood Restaurant and how could you beat what really amounted to a full dinner for 97 cents?!

Homecoming 1959

This comes from the same 1960 MHS annual, The Nicolet, that featured last week's basketball photo, so this had to be the 1959 homecoming.  But seeing this photo with the neat convertible and the backdrop of Menasha merchants on Main Street meant I just had to share these photos.  The car is approaching the intersection of Main and Mill Streets, judging by its position in front of Hidde's pharmacy.  In my mind, there aren't enough depictions of Menasha's downtown in its heyday so having this "found" backdrop in this context was a real find for me.  I'm sure you'll enjoy it, too.

The Old Court

Here's a nostalgic photo to end your week, circa 1960 of a basketball game at the old basketball court.  Look at those windows.  If that isn't an anachronism, I don't know what is.  The Bluejay plaque and the pennant on the wall certainly add period details to the tableau.  The most modern aspect is likely the modern-for-its-time electronic scoreboard tucked into the upper corner.

Dreaming of Shoes?

 January 24, 1938, Menasha Record

Here's a silly ad by Tuchscherer's for its Florsheim shoe sale.  Usually, the mores of the time would have women dreaming of shoes, but maybe this guy is just really tired.  It looks like he's wearing a necktie so he must be burning the candle at both ends, getting in a little hunting trip  before embarking for work.  Or, maybe it's the other way around.  Whatever the case, it's a whimsical reminder of a long standing business downtown.  

Craftsmen in Paper

Here's a nice ad from the 1939 Nicolet, the Menasha High yearbook.  As these ads were often just set in type with few graphics, it was nice to see such a wonderful display, which might have even been a trade ad used in other venues. I apologize for the less than optimal rendering of the image but I think you can get the gist of what's going on here.

The News from Menasha

January 16, 1896, Oshkosh Northwestern

Just the news from an ordinary winter's day in 1896, led by a humorous anecdote about a street car driver.  At first glance, it kind of comes across like a joke... a street car driver walks into a bar, etc.  Of course, my habitual challenge with the era's language leads me to ask, just what IS a commercial man?"  And as best as I can find, it meant an attorney who specializes in what we'd refer to today as business law.  

To Travelers!

Saturday Evening Press, January 10, 1878

In 1878, Menasha was only four years removed from becoming a city and was still finding its way.  Mr. R. M. Scott, local civic leader and owner of the National Hotel ensured those who read his advertisement for the hotel had additional information touting the area's strong points to encourage visitors. Written in typical flowery nineteenth century language, he even promises that sportsmen had "no lack of pleasurable novelties."  Not sure what that meant, but count me intrigued!

More about Mr. Scott at: https://menashabook.blogspot.com/2012/06/r-m-scott.html

Calm

January 16, 1968, Twin City News-Record

Let's end the week on a calming note.  This photo above, was itself taken in what would later become a very stormy year, long considered the most explosive and chaotic in our country's history.  But then, this week arrived.  After a very tumultuous week nationally, I resolve to find some solace in the quiet dignity and calm of nature to attempt to soothe my frazzled psyche.  I look forward to the time when the daily inflammatory news fades from view and we can return to a more mundane time, if that is even possible anymore. 

Bandits

January 6, 1933, Appleton Post-Crescent

January 20, 1933, Appleton Post-Crescent

Early 1933 found Menasha under a wave of robberies as evidenced above.  While there is no excuse for rampant crime, it is somewhat understandable in that the country WAS in the middle of a devastating depression and people were desperate for just the mere essentials to get by in what was, likely, the middle of a harsh Wisconsin winter.   

Lighting Up the Skies

January 11, 1957, Appleton Post-Crescent

I don't remember bonfires to rid the city of old Christmas trees in my own consciousness but I guess it was a thing in the late '50's.  I look forward to doing some more research and perhaps finding some of these promised photographs by Menasha's amateur shutterbugs. 

A New Light

January 2, 1965, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

By now most Americans know what a luminaria is, but in 1965, it was a new concept to the Fox Valley.  At one time or another, anything new is considered exotic...the idea of a pinata was strange and new at one time and now is a staple of most every kids' birthday party, for example.  And if you were wondering, the St. Norbert's tuition was increasing from $265 to $300 per term.   

His Master's Voice?

December 26, 1969, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

We've featured Tip Top in several other blog appearances, but none of them featured this cute (inadvertent?) recreation of the RCA "His Master's Voice" advertisement.  Those of us of a certain age know what I'm talking about, but for our younger readers, here's a reminder of that ad from the original painting in 1898:

And for you trivia buffs...the dog's name is Nipper.  Not sure about Mr. Nelson's dog.