December 29, 1963, Appleton Post-Crescent
Mr. Kurowski's hobby reminds me of ham radio operators who mail each other postcards to acknowledge their contacts. And it's also reminiscent of having a pen pal. I had known of service members who would exchange audio tapes with family members during long absences from home. But I didn't know there was an established hobby with its own label for its members...tapespondents.
December 12, 1959, Appleton Post-Crescent
Long time readers of this blog know that this was an airplane hangar at the George Whiting Airport dating back to the 1920's. When I was growing up in the 60's, this building was a Goodwill. Later it became a Kitz and Pfeil hardware, which it remains today. I never knew what evolved out of that airport over the years, but this photo fills in some of that gap. Gotta love the old cars.
December 23, 1939, Menasha Record
I've spent considerable time thinking about what this represents (really, too much time, lol). Is this some kind of hangover fever dream from imbibing too much Walter Bros. beer? Is Santa taunting him with a necktie for Christmas because he has enough ties to stock a clothier and he wants virtually anything else? Or is it some subtle reminder that his shopping isn't completed? And why is Santa flying (with wings) like an angel? Christmas minded blog masters want to know.
December 24, 1947, Appleton Post-Crescent
Santa looks like he needs a little meat on his bones during the Eagles party at the Brin. Regardless of Santa looking like he'd been using Ozempic, these kids weren't having it. Even if he'd appeared in Bermuda shorts, no matter, ol' Santa would still have gotten the job done.
December 17, 1947, Menasha Record
Santa's little elves have been working overtime as agents of Linsdau Florists to make your home presentable in time for Christmas. Many years later, these elves will be notable for residing "on a shelf" and keeping all good little children in line with their surveillance skills.
November 24, 1965, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern
Seeing as it is still in the vicinity of our recent Thanksgiving holiday, I dare to cross backwards into November to remind all of our blog readers of the famous Hotel Menasha smorgasbord. Dare I say a $1.35 feast even in this year of 1965 sounds like a bargain. And with the special dispensation of the bishop, one can definitely put the thoughts of leftover turkey behind with meaty Macaroni and Lasagna.
I'm taking a brief hiatus from the blog to address some health issues. I'll be back as soon as it is practicable. Thanks for your patience and understanding.
November 8, 1894, Appleton Post
The Appleton newspaper takes the high road in not revealing the names of shoe shoplifters from Menasha. Principled or not, this is the type of shenanigans newspapers used to engage in when they were the only media around and had a captive audience. Whatever the outcome and who's side you are on, it seems positively quaint that the Menasha newspaper was concerned about Appleton's paper casting aspersions upon the entire citizenry of Menasha. Nowadays, it seems like social decorum has gone the way of the dinosaur, what with the constant name calling by politicians and social media where nothing is sacred anymore.
November 4, 1973, Appleton Post-Crescent
While the outcome probably eased whatever tensions there were leading up to the contest, the outcome likely knocked the Zephyrs out of contention for a state berth. Still, the estimated 3,000 fans in attendance had a thrilling time.
November 24, 1964, Twin City News-Record
I realize it's early but I'm in a Thanksgiving mood! And there's no time like the present to prepare for the big day. Thinking of those hot dinner rolls with melting butter on my plate...mmm!
November 4, 1920, Menasha Record
Well, it's a bit too late to cast your votes by mail anymore, but here's your reminder to do your civic duty, if you haven't aleady. Even back in the 1920's, voting by mail was an acceptable alternative as proven here. Happy voting!
November 18, 1938, Menasha Record
We've had reports of youthful criminal gangs before in the blog, but this crew seems to have been well organized and yes, well-travelled. One wonders if they eventually were scared straight or continued their criminal ways. With World War II in the offing a few years hence, it's a good chance some of them may have been given the choice of jail or service. And that might have been just the discipline needed to turn their lives around.
November 2, 1931, Menasha Record
Presumably we have two sides of the coin represented here. One side says it was a "quiet affair" (Neenah?) while Menasha has a Halloween "toll." Interesting contrast. Notice the olde timey spelling for "Hallowe'en."
October 29, 1963, Twin City News-Record
We've covered collections for UNICEF a few weeks ago. But every autumn brings certain rites of passage- cooler temperatures, Halloween, and the falling of leaves. And as bothersome as it might be to have to rake the yard and bag up the leaves, it seems incongruous to make an extra effort to haul them somewhere else (across the street to the park?) and then dump them so they become somebody else's responsibility. Aren't you adding extra work for yourself to haul them across the street instead of just bagging them and being done with it? Who knows what thoughts go through the heads of homeowners trying to make things look good.
October 11, 1973, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern
As if it wasn't already cool enough to have fathers who were members of the fire department, to then get them to come to school and use you as part of their presentation on Show and Tell Day, had to be the coolest thing ever.
October 28, 1963, Twin City News-Record
Count on Bowlby's to be your Halloween headquarters for 1963. Masks, makeup, favors, and sweets, a one stop operation for all your needs. Still time to get ready before the big night on the 31st.
October 21, 1913, Menasha Record
Interesting stories on this day in 1913, car accidents, school events, an early winter storm. All the news that's fit to print, and to be read by Menasha Record subscribers.
October 13, 1980, Twin City News-Record
Forgive me for the pun-nish title, but then again, the sophomore class had no problems with the use of the "udder" word. School spirit at its finest.
October 11, 1930, Menasha Record
From the same issue of the Record that described the coromorant sightings and the movement of the boxcars to watch football games, comes this story. This type of incident was the type of thing my parents warned me about when I would sometimes visit (illegally) the Badger quarry behind my grandparents' house on Airport Road while they visited on certain Sundays. I can't believe some of the things I did as a kid.
October 14, 1950, Appleton Post-Crescent
Menasha and Neenah play to a 13-13 tie, and on Friday the 13th, no less! The whole page is a study in the past. The female fans wearing scarves on their heads, or "kerchiefs" as my Mom was wont to say. Add that to the facemask-less helmets the players wore and you know you are somewhere in the past. (By the way, Mom also called our couch a "davenport.")
October 11, 1930, Menasha Record
I'm taking it that the Menasha River is the Fox, considering the location cited as being near the old lighthouse. It is a sort of shorthand, as I have seen references to City Park in various local newspapers when the writer certainly meant Smith Park. I suppose this is okay though it could be confusing for out-of-towners. But then again, local mail used to be delivered with "City" written on the envelope in place of the city's name.
October 28, 1930, Menasha Record
October 24, 1970, Appleton Post-Crescent
If I encountered this scene, I would have been just like that kid in the background, craning his neck to see what was going on and winding my way through the yards to get a close-up view. I recall many happy hours spent watching with utter fascination, the road crews in the summer doing what they likely felt to be the most mundane of tasks. I thought it was great theater.
October 27, 1930, Menasha Record
I guess Mrs. Miller was having a bad night, considering the damage she put upon the Menasha police station. One can only imagine the repair bills to be a part of her sentencing once a court date was set.
October 12, 1935, Menasha Record
Back in the days when Columbus Day had the same cachet as Independence Day and Washington's Birthday, students would put on pageants and programs to commemorate the day. This, in 1935, is one example of such an agenda. Five months later, a devastating fire gutted the high school and led to the building of the new school on Seventh Street.
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If you are free and in the area over October 11th and 12th, why not consider joining Menasha in celebrating its 150th birthday? It looks to be a great event, the final big blowout of this, its sesquicentennial year.
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If you are free and in the area over October 11th and 12th, why not consider joining Menasha in celebrating its 150th birthday? It looks to be a great event, the final big blowout of this, its sesquicentennial year.
October 7, 1981, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern
Who of us, as we wound our way through grammar school, hadn't found him or herself pressing leaves between wax paper or in the pages of a book, getting them just so,for that upcoming leaf project that always seemed to accompany Autumn? It was as dependable as the sheafs of colorful construction paper and jars of school paste that occupied the classroom shelves.
October 7, 1981, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern
Remember when we'd take photos to be processed and we marveled at the one-hour turn around time? Or being impresssed by receiving a free roll of film for just taking them in to be processed? Or receiving a free second set of prints? Today, we just take photos with that handy camera that's in our pocket always and we seldom print them out, being just content to show them off on our phone. I can't remember the last time I had a photo printed. What does that say about us?
October 20, 1924, Menasha Record
From the "slow news day" file of the Menasha Record comes this frivolous story of an amorous motorist who ignited the ire of a motorcycle cop. Luckily, for our intrepid couple, the judge looked favorably upon their circumstance. Although, I suspect woe would have befallen them if they hadn't been hitched.
October 28, 1924, Menasha Record
One hundred years ago, it was an election year, too. And Menasha was concerned about its citizens being reminded to vote. What better than an annoying whistle every hour of the day for a week leading up to the election? And with women getting the right to vote just four years prior, I'm sure they were as ecstatic as the menfolk to be the recipients of such a harsh reminder as well.
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October 15, 1954, Appleton Post-Crescent
Until I saw this, I didn't remember seeing gasoline prices in newspaper ads. This tells me that prices were stable enough to have lead time to place such an ad. In today's volatile oil prices climate, I doubt that'd be even possible today as fast as prices change around town with rapidity.
October 30, 1954, Appleton Post-Crescent
Once an option in the Menasha food scene, The Fox Restaurant was located at 408 Racine Street. Today it's a residence.
October 15, 1954, Appleton Post-Crescent
I wish the quality of this photo was better but you can see enough to get the idea. And by this I'm pointing out the old school football helmets with no face masks, starting to be phased out in this decade. When I was growing up, my dad's old leather maskless football helmet was in my old toy box in our basement. I'd often put it on and being a young kid, it seemed like it was from another planet; I knew the 1960's NFL and I sure didn't understand history and what it meant. I wish I still had that old ratty thing, if only for sentimental value.
