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October 20, 1967, Twin City News-Record
From the same edition of the News-Record that gave us the Kindergarten field trip yesterday, now comes this adventure for local Brownies. My own daughters were Brownies, albeit some thirty years later, and 1000 miles removed from this in South Carolina, yet the activities look largely the same, down to the "sit-a-pons" they made and which became a de facto part of the experience. I guess some things always remain the same.
September 25, 1967, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern
Here at the blog, it seems we're always pointing out the changes from the past to the present, as if they weren't obvious to today's sensibilities. And while we border on being too snarky at times, there is some truth to our message. For instance, look at this photo. Most all the men are wearing suits and all the women are wearing suits or dresses. Contrasting that with today's parents' day activities, you'd be lucky to find somebody NOT wearing a Menasha Bluejays t-shirt or hoodie or some other fan-related merchandise, much less a suit or a dress.
Yes, the past WAS a more formal time, almost to the point of ridiculousness. Even at my young age, I still remember watching tv sitcoms in the 60's wondering why Ward Cleaver's idea of relaxing at home was taking off his suit coat and wearing a cardigan sweater with his shirt and tie while lounging with the newspaper. All the sitcom dads did it. Sometimes they'd wear something way over the top like a robe or smoking jacket with their shirt and tie, especially if they were entertainers like Danny Williams in Make Room for Daddy or Ricky Ricardo in I Love Lucy. You know what I mean.
Since my father worked at Banta's in the bindery department, I only saw him wearing a tie on church days and for school events and funerals and the like. That was my norm. When he came home, he didn't lounge around in a shirt and tie like the Beaver's dad. And my Mom didn't vacuum the house in pearls and high heeled shoes either. My family wasn't worthy of being a sitcom family, I guess, but at least I didn't have to worry about Eddie Haskell giving me the business.
September 25, 1860, Belvedere Standard (Illinois)
Evidently, this must have been one of the first documented cases of the blue-green algae blooms of Lake Winnebago. To this day, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources still monitors the algae growth and conducts studies, as this is definitely a health risk.
September 25, 1869, Appleton Crescent
The Appleton newspaper waxes poetic about Governor James Doty, former territorial governor of the Wisconsin Territory and the then-Territorial Governor of the Utah Territory upon his death in 1865. Besides his local fame, Governor Doty was responsible for Madison becoming the capital of Wisconsin and lobbied for years to free Wisconsin from the shadow of the Michigan Territory, realizing fully that Michigan's lack of interest in the "distant" lands on the other side of Lake Michigan were robbing Wisconsin of fully realizing its potential.
I especially like the sentiment that Wisconsinites will someday take advantage of the new transcontinental railroad and visit Doty's grave in Utah and gain inspiration from it.
September 21, 1961, Oshkosh Northwestern
Sometimes you can kill two birds with one stone as they say, but it even provided "entertainment" for onlookers. So, was it a three-way tie? Clearing land for a better park while giving firefighters badly needed training AND a show for free? I'm still a little boy who wants to watch the streets being paved. Count me in.
September 1, 1951, Appleton Post-Crescent
Like our post from yesterday, this man could easily provide some cultural context to the past seventy years of his life as a printer. Beginning in the 1880's and moving forward to the early 1950's, this man has seen some history as it unfolded. For the uninitiated, a printer's devil was a young apprentice in a printing establishment who performed a number of tasks, such as mixing tubs of ink and fetching type. Mr. Butterworth long ago left that behind as he mastered the art and even became his own client by becoming a poet on the side.
September 14, 1939, Menasha Record
What a fascinating program this must have been, hearing Menasha history firsthand from those who lived it. The timing was just right, to hear from those who lived in the 19th century, some of who were born before Menasha was even a village. If only something like this could have been recorded; the value it would have provided for future generations of Menasha history enthusiasts would have been priceless.
September 28, 1889, Saturday Evening Press
The editors at our favorite local newspaper were positively agog with alliteration for this edition of the local happenings column. But I shouldn't criticize; if I was the editor of a newspaper I'd be sorely tempted to do the same. (Witness what I do here with this blog at my disposal, lol.) Be that as it may, there are no great consequences to this practice, especially when touting the local gadabouts and local fads, to include the "pearl craze" highlighted early in the column.
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September 7, 1945, Menasha Record
The Bank of Menasha picked a very suitable photo for this time of year to illustrate its point. What kid (or grownup, for that matter) didn't have that look of dismay upon their face one time or another when wondering where the time went. (Heck, I get that look most Monday mornings asking myself where the weekend went.) It's all so fresh and exciting at the start, but then it's gone. It gives credence to the old adage of not being sad because it's gone but to rejoice because it happened. Good advice for anyone.
September 27, 1910, Menasha Record
We've noted in the blog before the seeming overemphasis on morality within the city by the local newspapers during certain time periods. Be it warning us of "shady" individuals who walked our streets or just commenting on the moral "climate" in general, the diligent editor of the Record and those of other periodicals were sure to inform the populace of any perceived moral degradations, lest they get any more hotter under their starched collars.
Of course, I can view this with 21st century sensibilities and know only too well that if the newspapermen of that era somehow chanced upon a time machine and flung themselves forward to our current era, they'd be in for the shock of their lives. No doubt they'd be spewing plaintive cries for the fall of Babylon happening before their bespectacled eyes. A small dose of the Kardashians or viewing any recent red carpet for the Grammy Awards would likely stop their hearts, or at best, send them into paroxysms of shaking and gasping for air. These are things we may not like, but have come to expect.
Lest I continue on this track, the bottom line is simple. Everything is relative...relative to its time and the mores we allow ourselves to ascribe to. It's all evolution, that process of gradual change that takes place over many generations. I think of that now and then when somebody invokes "the good old days." At first glance, the idea might seem appealing, but peel back a few layers and see what you are left with. You might have a different viewpoint after that. You might even decide our so-called morality wasn't so moral after all.
September 3, 1958, Twin City News-Record
Good move on the part of the Whiting Paper Company, sponsoring safe driving tips with the advent of the new school year. The community sees that Whiting cares about its youngest citizens while generating goodwill with their parents.
July 19, 1910, Menasha Record
Again with the counting of the automobiles? You might remember the "census" of autos from last week's blog item regarding the city's valuation of 1912- at that time it said there were 29 autos in the city. Whatever the case, the series of concerts downtown was a hit, as evidenced from the record turnout. Thanks to the Arion band, which must have been a formidable group. I did a bit of research and learned that this band was active in Oshkosh between 1877 and 1919 and was a member of the "Arion Musical Association," a group consisting of bands around the country with a German heritage. "Arion" refers to the ancient Greeks, where Arion was a legendary performer of the arts and music.
September 11, 1915, Menasha Record
With the return to school comes the old traditions, to include the initiations and other rites of passage. Of course, in today's world, one must be wary of it being deemed "hazing" and ensure things do not get out of hand lest we bring up all the negative connotations that that provides. Back then it appears it was good clean fun, as they say.
September 28, 1912, Menasha Record
It might seem strange to see a time when the city had over seven times more pack animals than automobiles and how their value rivaled that of the motor vehicles. But it only makes sense, considering the slow and steady evolution of motor travel in the early part of the 20th century. Before long, we'd find we'd wholly transitioned over to that mode of transportation, requiring paved roads and streets and all the infrastructure required to maintain it- gas stations, mechanic shops, etc.
September 29, 1981, Neenah-Menasha Northwestern
Been doing this forever, it seems, the two of us. We go back many, many years, but here we are. On a great day we catch a fish. No fish, and it's still a great day. We're living the dream.
September 2, 1944, Menasha Record
Here's hoping you have had a terrific Labor Day weekend! Don't let any chances of rain or inclement weather spoil your festivities; heaven knows we'll all be back at work soon enough. .
