The Last Word

September 19, 1897, Chicago Chronicle

I promise that this is the last word on the whole Columbus statue affair of 1897.  But the depth of snarky commentary and needling of our fair city by this newspaper was just too complete and audacious to pass up and I needed to share this with you.  Even the illustrations were a marvel.  Did they send an artist to Menasha to do a sketch of the downtown area?  Amazing.  

Celebrate!

July 14, 1966, Twin City News-Record

As you know, we at the blog love us some Prospector Days memories.  This is a great parade photo from 1966 showing the enthusiastic crowd for a parade.  Not a bad turnout for a Wednesday night.  

Watchful Eye

 

July 19, 1966, Twin City News-Record

Future stars of the diamond get their licks in during the Rec Department's Tee League program.  Maybe all of them won't be great hitting stars but then, it's all about the play, right?  You have to start somewhere.

No Show

September 21, 1897, Oshkosh Northwestern

September 22, 1897, Oshkosh Northwestern

Well, this clinches it.  The whole idea was a joke?  I'll bet the other city fathers were really ticked off.  As it played off, the statue was moved to the corner of the then-newly constructed Columbus Memorial Building, located on State and Washington Street in downtown Chicago. The Columbus statue lost its perch on the Columbus Memorial Building when the building was torn down in 1959. The statue was then moved to the center of a granite fountain in Columbus Plaza of Arrigo Park on the corner of Loomis and Polk Street in the Old Italian section of Chicago.  In 2020, a monument project committee worked up a major report for monument management in light of the BLM demonstrations and the statue has now gone into storage.  This was the oldest and one of three Columbus statues throughout the city that were removed.

More Columbus Talk

 September 11, 1897, Chicago Chronicle

The saga continues, the Chicago newspaper here making a plea to ensure the statue doesn't go off to the north without some consideration for the large sum expended for its construction.  More tomorrow.

The Columbus Saga

 

July 15, 1897, Oshkosh Northwestern

Menasha got wind of Chicago wanting to rid itself of a Christopher Columbus statue, seemingly erected in conjunction with the 1893 Columbian Exposition.  And with it, the idea that it'd find a perfect home in Menasha was somehow launched. Of course, the local Chicago newspapers had a field day with the idea, complete with excessive snark to stick it to our fair city.  More tomorrow.  

Free Tickets, Prospectors

 

July 24, 1963, Oshkosh Northwestern

It's July in the blog and that always brings memories of Prospector Days.  Here's a couple of ads from 1963 to juice your memories of the event.  I like that tickets for the rides were required, even though they were free.  I guess that helped account for time or attendance?  

2 Hit Program

July 14, 1939, Menasha Record

The Brin gives you more for your money with the "2 Hit Program," a double feature for the whole family...Shirley Temple in her waning days of stardom plus a sports comedy to boot. And... the added "Disney Special."  A night of entertainment in our small town, and replicated hundreds of times across America from Maine to California.  

To the Dogs

July 17, 1939, Menasha Record

I couldn't help but laugh at the headline and knew the writer of this piece was having his (or her) fun, too.  Though I'm sure the soon-to-be ex-missus didn't find this that funny when she saw it in the newspaper,  and she certainly must have hated it even more when the news of the day would give out your entire street address while making light of your situation.  Today this would be buried in the official notices of the paper if listed at all and you can be sure there'd be no other address info given.

(The answer to the question yesterday was Hotel Menasha.)

Hot?!

July 17, 1939, Menasha Record

Yes, cool and refreshing, not dissimilar from today's Gatorade, ha ha.  Seriously though, I  understand customer service was a big deal back in the day, as the kids say, but to get your beer DIRECTLY from the brewery up until 10 pm?   Wow!  And how simple...just dial "2" on your rotary phone.  

(And extra bonus points to you if you can name which business had the phone number of "1" during that era.  Answer revealed tomorrow.)

Coming Up

 July 2, 1963, Oshkosh Northwestern

This was the location for what became the Doering's Super Valu grocery store that opened in 1964.  We've covered this store in the past:  https://menashabook.blogspot.com/2014/09/super-valu-travail-thurs.html, to include the heartburn that its construction caused.  But after the proverbial dust settled, the store became a vital part of the Menasha landscape for the next forty plus years.

Centennial Celebration

July 28, 1973, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

With the sesquicentennial coming up, there's no harm in looking back fifty years at what the centennial celebration entailed.  Of course, it was much more than beer tents and rides at Jefferson Park, as featured here today.  

Chautauqua!

July 2, 1906, Menasha Record

We've touched upon the subject of "chautauqua" before, essentially an educational opportunity of lectures and presentations and orations of an eclectic nature.  In today's terms, it might be likened to TED Talks.  This particular one was held in Appleton but we visited one at Brighton Beach some years before:  https://menashabook.blogspot.com/2014/03/mystery-solved-brighton-beach-chautauqua.html

A Washout

July 2, 1906, Menasha Record

Presumably this was played at the Menasha park, as the verbiage indicates Menasha was sloshing around the field before the game was called after the first half inning.  Obviously, 1906 weather forecasts weren't as reliable as what we have today, the proof of rain coming being the actual rain!  Be that as it may, it might have been a comical watch for the five hundred diehards who braved the elements.  

How The Other Half Lived

 July 11, 1941, Oshkosh Northwestern

Here's an addendum to our Fourth of July coverage last week, tempered with just the right amount of enthusiasm from a World War II-era soldier, reporting back to his hometown folks.  Such newsy letters were a vital tool in keeping up the morale of the general public, who had graciously allowed the US government to take their young men for the war effort.  Morale officers, as described in the letter, ensured that wholesome activities were regulated and available to the soldiers in their charge, lest the public believe there were no other alternatives than the unsavory elements that tended to proliferate outside the installation gates.  

Tickets 50 Cents

July 20, 1899, Appleton Post-Crescent

The moment I read the phrase above, "A pleasant time is assured and all should go", I immediately thought of The Beatles and Mr. Kite:  "Having been some days in preparation, a splendid time is guaranteed for all...."  Gosh, I love the old timey prose of the turn of the century newspapers.

Truckin'

I chanced upon this photo of this handsome Gear's Dairy delivery truck.  It must be from about 1962 or 1963, based upon the years on the sticker under the driver's window and the phone number with the lettered exchange.  Can't you just see a white uniformed figure emerge from the truck, metal milk carrier in hand with fresh, cold bottles of milk?  

Endless Well

 

June 8, 1970, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

I could go for a money well like that!  I never did get a perpetual money wheel to help me plan my savings plan, but I DO remember some free pencils, the kind that always let me know the address and phone number of the institution holding my money.  Needless to say, banking institutions were always trying new angles to gain new savers, be it free toasters for opening accounts to gimmicks like this savings tool.  

A Good Old Fashioned Hurrah

July 4, 1878, Saturday Evening Press

With the nation's centennial just two years before, patriotic fervor was still rampant in Menasha.  I mean,. just look at this elaborate program to celebrate Independence Day.  

Parenthetical note about the entertainment:  Planner's Turner's Band was a then-popular musical troupe for both public and private gatherings, headed by businessman John Planner who had began his Menasha business career in 1859, when Menasha was still in its infancy .  At one point he was elected town treasurer and also served as an alderman and headed the board of education.   In 1884 Planner gained wide attention for the construction of the building which housed his Dry Goods Emporium at 212 Main Street.  That handsome building still stands today.

Happy Fourth of July!

 

We've seen this photo before in the blog- its circa 1943 and embodies the patriotic spirit of Menasha residents during World War II.  It's a favorite of mine.  Here's wishing you a happy and safe 4th of July holiday!  

Order Now

 July 1, 1921, Menasha Record

There's nothing like fresh ice cream on a hot summer's day and what better than quality ice cream from a local dairy, just in time for the Fourth of July holiday.  I'm sue you have your plans in order by now for the holiday.