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.