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December 23, 1939, Menasha Record
Today is the first day of an annual custom- Merry Christmas and holiday greetings from the fine, past merchants of the Twin Cities. It's a blog tradition to offer these little snippets of greetings and holiday cheer on behalf of the advertisers within the local newspapers. Most of them are gone now, but we at the blog hope some of these businesses strike a chord with you and give you a nostalgic glow, be it fond memories of the fellowship you shared at a local tavern or perhaps the thought of a special gift from a local store.
December 23, 1901, Appleton Post-Crescent
This is an indication of the importance of Menasha early in its infancy, helping to tie the valley together via passable roads and infrastructure. Yes, Menasha's founders would have been astounded at the progress in just fifty years, likely terming it science fiction. (By the way, that term was first used in the same year, 1851, but didn't really enter the public lexicon until the 1920's.)
December 30, 1893, Saturday Evening Press
One of the prices of industrialization was the inconvenience of coal-fired smokestacks that belched soot and befouled the neighboring areas of Menasha. Needless to say, Menasha was not alone in having this problem. Weighing this "inconvenience" versus the benefits of commerce meant that the soot was a necessary evil for the healthy progression of the city. Pollution would eventually be dealt with, but it would take awhile.
December 18, 1929, Menasha Record
A few weeks ago in the blog, we had a 1969 ad from The Clothes Shop that is very reminiscent of this one. Of course, that version just screamed 1960's. But forty years before, it was enough to have a sedate Christmas candle and a somber litany of gift ideas that greeted the shopper's eye to get the point across.
December 21, 1915, Menasha Record
The new-fangled "talking machine" threatens the old tradition of gathering in the parlor with sheet music on the stand and Mother on the piano. Within a few years, radio will appear as a commercial entity and records will become even more popular as the century rolls on.
December 26, 1901, Oshkosh Northwestern
Menasha certainly was a hotbed of marital scandal and intrigue back in the day, as this article attests. I can only assume bigamy laws were not as strict as they eventually became in certain jurisdictions. A one dollar fine and then being allowed to leave seems pretty lax for the time, though it might have been just enough for it to be a part of the public record. It sounds as if Mr. Bublitz was more than forgiving, as long as he had his boy back.
December 6, 1898, Oshkosh Northwestern
Our subject from last week who had the scandalous divorce in Menasha after disclosing his secret marriage, just got into bigger trouble. Now it seems he's accused of clothing theft from his employer in Appleton and selling the goods to unsuspecting customers in the Twin Cities. And so close to Christmas, too. More to come in the days ahead.
December 23, 1939, Menasha Record
For those wondering what to serve the guests for Christmas drop-ins and the like, Walter Bros. Beer is the solution. And with the assurance that the brewery itself would deliver it to your home until 10 pm, there was no excuse for your guests to go parched and unsatisfied as the Yuletide approached.
November 22, 1898, Oshkosh Northwestern
Scandal rears its ugly head in Menasha via this "secret" marriage that led to a public divorce. I'm sure this couple, unlucky in love, gave the citizenry enough tongue wagging to last throughout the holidays.
December 18, 1958, Twin City News-Record
Surely the Christmas spirit was in abundance for the Rotarians but especially for the school kids gifted with Christmas goodies. I can't imagine them going back to the afternoon classes and being in any condition to learn after this noontime Christmas overload.
December 16, 1958, Twin City News-Record
Kudos to the Twin Citians of this time period. Evidently, Neenah and Menasha put their best feet forward to make a visitor feel welcome. Was it the Christmas season or just the unbridled hospitality of the local folk? So nice of Miss Bailey to single us out, as too often it is only bad behavior that gets publicized.
December 15, 1898, Oshkosh Northwestern
The mayors of three principalities engaged in a mutual admiration society while riding the inter-urban between their towns. I guess it was only fitting that the Smith library was shown off to the other two mayors, having just been completed and obviously the newest thing in town. Neenah's City Hall (and clock towers) had been completed in 1888. I wonder how much of a spirit of cooperation and fellowship really was fostered that day, as politics tends to muddy things up, as we all know.
December 1, 1965, Oshkosh Northwestern
There's nothing like discount prices to bring shoppers to the downtown area, especially when Dick and Jane are expecting something wonderful under the tree. Does anybody know what "Col-R-Placs" are? I was stymied by the mention of "Putter-Poles" and I eventually found this on eBay:
It seems like a cross between TinkerToys and an Erector set. I was 9 years old for Christmas, 1965 and I likely could recite every toy commercial I'd seen up to that point! But this outfoxed me. They must not have had a large TV budget.
November 30, 1962, Oshkosh Northwestern
While I realize that this was the era of "Mad Men", and that every TV lawyer, private eye, and businessman had a bottle stashed in the bottom drawer of his desk, but the cocktail bar opened at 10 am? And lunch isn't even served until 11:30? I suppose we were keeping pace with the other taverns in town. But really? O-ka-ay.
December 1, 1959, Oshkosh Northwestern
This interesting article chronicles Elisha Smith's journey to Menasha when the village was essentially at the edge of a wilderness. Dodging tree stumps and getting mired in mud between Sheboygan and Fond du Lac before boarding a boat for the final leg of his journey, it's a wonder he stuck it out and didn't go back to Rhode Island. Mrs. Smith must have had a tremendous amount of faith in Mr. Smith's judgement.
November 29, 1980, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern
A little elf told me that Santa will visit the Cities of Neenah and Menasha this year on December 4, 2023 through December 15 on the Santa float, put on by Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue. But we can use our blog time machine and see back into 1980 when Santa first arrived via downtown parade that year. No matter how he gets here, it's always a good time for Santa.
November 14, 1970, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern
We first met Sister Evelyn back in 2021: https://menashabook.blogspot.com/2021/05/bobos-bad-habit.html I wonder what she'd think about showing up here in the blog, not to mention wondering how the "pensive" Mr. Galassie, as she once described me, could even be capable to doing this, lol. I guess we all evolve and uncover hidden talents as time goes by.
November 26, 1969, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern
What with it being Black Friday and all, why not go shopping locally? This ad just screams "the 60's" from the hip typeface to the groovy guys.
November 25, 1875, Saturday Evening Press
A fine editorial for understanding the real meaning of the day, while also decrying the corruption rampant in politics of the time, a lesson that isn't lost in today's troubled political climate. Note how the word "today" is used in the archaic style of "to-day."
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 16, 1921, Menasha Record
Today we present a potpourri of Thanksgiving Day articles as featured in the Menasha Record, over a week before the actual holiday that year. No apologies, as none of them are particularly Menasha-centric outside of appearing in a local Menasha newspaper. More than likely, (though I'm not sure if this was even a thing in 1921, but it would be in another few decades) they'd be attributed to wire service filler that was reproduced in newspapers nationwide, regardless of the location. So, enjoy, if only for the vintage illustrations as you gain speed towards the holiday.
November 19, 1937, Menasha Record
December 20, 1937, Menasha Record
December 29, 1937, Menasha Record
Who ever said Menasha didn't have the Christmas spirit? And even way back in 1937, the local garden club was ensuring that the lights of Christmas were felt around town. I'm only sorry that photographs were few and far between in newspapers of this era, although the black and white nature of them wouldn't done the contest winners justice anyway.
November 20, 1956, Appleton Post-Crescent
I am taken by the new "king-size" which is only 12 ounces. Granted, I can remember the days of glass soda bottles when 8 ounces was the norm. In today's parlance, a normal-sized bottle is 16.9 ounces now and "mini-cans" are being sold at 7.5 ounces. It's our national passion that bigger is always better when it comes to foodstuffs. It might explain our expanded waistlines, too.
And I love that "mom" is in quotes.
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November 22, 1957, Appleton Post-Crescent
Do banks, or for that matter, credit unions, still have Christmas Club accounts? I know a person can get the same results (and higher interest) if he or she would drop their money into a short term CD that matures right before you need it at Christmas time.
Granted, we were a bit more naive back then when it came to our money, but the nostalgic factor remains high for the day when that check arrived and one could go about his or her shopping knowing that they fulfilled their goal and actually had a plan that year.
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Seeing this intriguing article led me to do a bit more digging as to whom this Ellen Douglas was talking about. I managed to figure out some of the names. You readers who are better steeped in Menasha history might have a better idea of who they all are. But here's a few finds:
H.A. Fisher was the cashier of the First National Bank of Menasha and the Secretary/Treasurer of the Menasha Ice and Fuel Co.
George Banta was, of course, the publisher we all know.
P. V. Lawson was the prominent historian and lecturer at "whose shrine" the author worships, former mayor and business leader.
Mrs. F. W. Pleasants (Sally Lee McCarty Pleasants) was the mother of Lucy Lee Pleasants, the first librarian of the Menasha Public Library and also a writer. She was also the sister of George Banta's wife, Ellen.
James Thom was a long term third ward alderman for the city and also the bookkeeper for the Menasha Wood Split Pulley Company, run by P. V. Lawson.
Oscar Schlegel partnered with a Jesse D. Alger and ran a sample room for a time, later turning his attentions to candy store ownership.
Ambrose V. Richardson managed the mills of his cousin, P.V. Lawson, and served as a bookkeeper of the Menasha Wood Split Pulley Co. and Gilbert Paper Co. He was awarded a patent (along with Menasha Mayor Joseph Hill) for a fire alarm sprinkler system.
Joseph Hill, as mentioned above was the mayor and an alderman but also was an electrical engineer who worked for Gilbert Paper and later formed a contracting firm which eventually became Twin Cities Electric and Supply Company.
Mrs. Julia C. Noble was the widow of Leander J. Noble, the superintendent of Menasha Wooden Ware, an extensive land owner, alderman, park commissioner, and mayor.
Charles Reed was a son of Menasha founder Curtis Reed and was the assistant postmaster. He was also deaf, as mentioned in the article.
And the title of the article? The word "anent" is one I had to look up. It means "in regard to, about, concerning." Once again the old English come into play.
November 17, 1961, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern
Here's your reminder that a certain holiday is coming faster than you might think. The countdown is on! 42 days, at last count, hee hee.
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November 21, 1956, Appleton Post-Crescent
Ah yes, I remember those habits only too well. Unfortunately, when Vatican II came about around 1963 or so, the nuns evolved into wearing more streamlined habits and as a result, Sister Mary (Fill in the blank) could now turn around more quickly and catch this little guy doing something he wasn't supposed to be doing! One of the downfalls of progress, according to my little mind at the time.
November 13, 1950, Appleton Post-Crescent
I'm assuming the gimmick here is the promise of fast service, not unlike something performed by a pit crew at the Indianapolis 500, for example, but something just as thorough as if it took hours to perform.
November 26, 1951, Appleton Post-Crescent
We've seen this photo many times over the years, but it does underscore the facts presented in this article. I have no qualms with calling the 1880's Menasha's Golden Age, though I might also include the following decade as we gained the library and Smith Park during that time. Also, the high school on Racine Street was built and lasted until the dreadful fire of 1936.
November 12, 1951, Appleton Post-Crescent
Let's hearken back some 70+ years ago, when social media was non-existent and real human interaction was a necessity to be socially acceptable to one's peers. Heck, the majority of these kids likely didn't even have a TV set in their homes when these photos were taken. Video games? Nah, making balsa wood airplanes. Music videos? Nah, scratchy records of Patti Page and Rosemary Clooney. The boys in the photo were thankful they could hold on to those cold pop bottles as their palms were sweaty while interacting with those girls. And young Mr. Blank looks none too happy to be dancing with Miss Schoepel in the top photo, so I know he CAN identify with those boys below..
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November 1, 1909, Menasha Record
The Halloween news roundup, from a sedate surprise party of 15 young ladies surprising their friend to four young ruffians engaging in Halloween destruction at Mrs. Burroughs' house. Notice Halloween spelled in the old traditional way.
October 14, 1971, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern
As my "complete, exciting Halloween headquarters," I'm glad the ol' sweet shop sold angel food candy, something I hadn't thought about in decades. A little bit o' research told me that it is purported to have been invented in Buffalo, NY. Whether or not that is true is beside the point. Spongecandy.com, a Buffalo candy maker says these are the other names for their product:
Sponge Toffee (Canada)
Cinder Toffee (Great Britain)
Sea Foam (Oregon, California, Michigan)
Honeycomb (Australia)
Puff Candy (Scotland)
Hokey Pokey (New Zealand)
Fairy Food (Wisconsin, Chicago)
Angel Food (Wisconsin)
Molasses Puffs (St. Louis)
Gingerbread (New Hampshire)
More research divulged many, many recipes for the candy, so I might just have to try my own hand at it.
Here's a follow-up to yesterday's story. It seems like a reasonable explanation, but why return to the scene (or vicinity) of the crime? I'd really like to know how much time he served for this offense but I'm still looking, to no avail.
October 17, 1908, Menasha Record
Crime rears its ugly head in our fair city, forging checks from a notable civic leader and businessman. Now, $65 doesn't sound like much but the inflation calculator I found tells me the buying power for that 65 dollars in 1908 amounted to $2174. Yes, it IS hard to believe. And that $500 bail? $16,227.66. Wow.
October 23, 1908, Menasha Record
Loescher Hardware makes it known that it is tough on the competition and won't stand for imposters who claim their prices are lower and have a higher quality of merchandise. That illustration of a "tough guy" from this era is a hoot. He looks like he'd knock your block off if given half a chance.
I'm taking the next week off from the blog, so I'll see you back on October 30th!
October 13, 1961, Oshkosh Northwestern
We at the blog just can't leave this smorgasbord alone! (What is it, the fourth time alone this calendar year?!) But with those names, my Polish and German palates are in high gear for trying these dishes! My goodness!
