May 3, 1924, Menasha Record
The sign in question is pictured below:
A blog which supplements my two books, Menasha, and Neenah and Menasha: Twin Cities of the Fox Valley
May 3, 1924, Menasha Record
The sign in question is pictured below:
May 31, 1949, Appleton Post-Crescent
This article is a follow-up to last week's news that the 1949 Memorial Day observance would not be a combined Twin Cities affair. Instead, we got a timely address by a Milwaukee VFW official touting the veteran as a harbinger of public policy, just four years after the end of World War II. He went on to make other salient points, revealing his belief that public service is a fair trade for all the benefits a citizen could receive and that patriotism begins at home via the parents' influence on their children. It's good, timeless advice for any era.
I repost this every year.
May 21, 1949, Appleton Post-Crescent
This article proves once again that varying degrees of animosity CAN exist between the Twin Cities, no matter the subject. But really? For Memorial Day? In hindsight, having separate observances was likely the best compromise of all.
May 24, 1930, Oshkosh Northwestern
I think I will pursue finding this yearbook, if it is as handsome as described. I'm sure I will look it up at the library the next time I'm in Menasha. I am intrigued at viewing the pictures of the mills within...yearbooks often feature then-current photographs to carry out their theme. However, I've seen some of those mill pictures so many times I likely could draw them in my sleep! But a 1930 photo of downtown for example...now that would be an exciting find.
May 24, 1900, Neenah Daily Times
Child labor was generally accepted, especially in the lower classes who needed their child's wages to get by. Farm labor was always there, what with family farming, but the advent of mechanization in conjunction with factory work in the mid to late 19th century made the allure of using children to do the work, especially in textile mills, almost a necessity for the factory owners' fiscal well-being. Creation of child labor laws became a movement in the late 19th/early 20th century. But it wasn't until 1938 that Congress finally passed a child labor law (Fair Labor Standards Act, or FLSA) that would later be upheld by the Supreme Court. Up until then, use of child labor had often been justified as an incentive to keep kids off the streets and it also fulfilled the Puritan work ethic that enveloped America. But anecdotal evidence of children as young as 4 years old being employed pushed child labor activists to work even harder to get laws passed. I wonder how young the kids at the Wooden Ware were.
May 22, 1944, Menasha Record
So nice of Twin City Building and Loan (later Twin City Savings) to offer its assistance in making our properties more sightly. There's nothing like utilizing the whole war theme to declare war on everything in sight, to include homeowner neglect. Seriously though, what's the harm in adding a little paint and hammering a few nails to fix a loose "something?" Besides, it merits something productive in the end while also distracting us the smallest bit from worrying about Junior over in the Pacific Theater.
May 10, 1944, Menasha Record
As America was in the throes of World War II, entertainment continued to be geared to patriotic and inspirational movies as evidenced here as well as pure escapism. Hollywood was happy to provide a shot in the arm to motivate Americans at home to continue their victory gardens and scrap drives, knowing that victory was to be theirs one day soon. Bargain prices and gift premiums like the aforementioned "free dishes" were certain to keep the movie houses full and satisfy the patrons' desire for value for their buck.
May 3, 1948, Menasha Record
This ad brings up many questions. So, is the "business man's lunch" a thing? Like a special? A specific sandwich or entree? Or is it just the opportunity for a businessman to have lunch? And why separate "business" and "man?" Isn't it "businessman?" And sometimes it's the "Hotel Menasha" and other times it's the "Menasha Hotel." Was that a function of the changing ownership? Or just whatever was convenient? Whatever the case, our illustrated businessman, or business man, is certainly pleased with either the waitress or the wonderful foods being set before him. Or, maybe he's just a naturally happy-go-lucky guy who's got Menasha by the tail and knows his way around a boardroom. And in this ad, a lunchroom. (I think I've gotten my snarky points out of the way for today, thank you very much.)
May 18, 1948, Menasha Record
Despite the war having ended less than three years before, there was still a draft to be concerned about by able-bodied young men fresh out of high school. And rather than have the Army pick a trade for you, why not go in voluntarily and have a choice in the matter? Recruiters stationed upstairs in the Menasha post office had just that idea in mind.
May 20, 1905, Neenah
May 4, 1915, Menasha Record
Now, who can argue with "physicians and boards of health" about the importance of sterilizing one's clothes while pressing them? Why, one might as well argue against the logic of washing one's hands! I tell you, advertisers in the early twentieth century had no shortage of interesting claims.
May 17, 1967, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern
I trust all the moms out there had a successful (and hopefully) restful day to themselves. Today's entry harkens back to the Mom of the year contests put on in the 60's by the Menasha Business Associates. We first encountered Mrs. Wanty in this post, which highlighted her and the other candidates seeking votes for this grand honor: https://menashabook.blogspot.com/2013/05/happy-mothers-day.html I was told once that there is no harder or more gratifying job than being a mother. I believe it. Love to all the moms out there.
May 20, 1899, Appleton Post-Crescent
Menasha fans were crying in their respective beers after this showing. But I just love the language of 1899, referring to the Menasha team as "ball tossers" and remarking that Appleton " gained some good practice." Not the usual sports banter in a sports report we've become accustomed to, which would actually highlight the action. Having the score by innings was nice but a little more info would have been helpful...maybe a traditional box score?
May 9, 1908, Menasha Record
While it isn't fair to label this as a "Miss Lonelyhearts" type of column, it comes close in that it seems to deal with affairs of the heart, be them successful or, as is the case in many of the anecdotes related here, largely unresolved and unrequited. (I'll have to look into further issues to see what the winner of the gentlemen's popularity contest gets besides notoriety. And in Menasha, that might have been enough.)
May 15, 1912, Menasha Record
Conducted either in the interests of time or, perhaps, novelty, comes this innovative idea for a prospective bride. One wonders about the reactions of the other riders at the sight of this celebration. Considering the decidedly stricter mores of the time, one hopes that they were convivial.
May 15, 1978, Twin City News-Record
Spring is a good time for the schools to allow their students to let their hair down, so to speak, and unleash originality and creativity for the public's consumption. I'm sure there were many proud parents and relatives in the audence when this crew crooned for their families from the St.John stage.
March 30, 1961, Twin City News-Record
After commenting on the third place winner of this contest yesterday, I felt compelled to include the overall first place winner. More good sentiments towards making a better Menasha.
May 2, 1961, Twin City News-Record
Please take a few minutes and read the essay above from the "How to Make Menasha a Better Place in Which to Live" contest. It reads as if it could have been written today...or at any time during the last 62 years! I bring this up, not to criticize the city, but rather to show that things do not necessarily change, despite calls for it, year after year. It reminds me of that old trope about the writer saying that: “Children; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. They no longer rise when elders enter the room, they contradict their parents and tyrannize their teachers. Children are now tyrants.” And then it is revealed that it was written by Socrates in 470 BC. I think my generation was branded with similar comments in the 60's and 70's as well.
Whatever your views on Menasha are, it will always be a work in progress, just like any other city. And no amount of griping or Neenah envy will help make it better. With the city's sesquicentennial right around the corner, we would do well to take stock of what is good about Menasha and build upon that foundation and take pride in what we have achieved over the last 150 years.