Christmas in July

With summertime in full swing, I thought it was time for a little Christmas in July.  Of course, the real thing will be here before you know it! 

(In a sobering, historical context, this issue of the News-Record came out just 6 days after the Kennedy assassination; America must have had a bittersweet Christmas that year.  But in only a little over two months, The Beatles would storm America's shores on February 9, 1964, kicking off the "Swinging 60's," as a cultural-defining decade.  Heady times, indeed.)   

Northwestern Engraving

This building sits in the Washington Street Historic District on Doty Island.  Built around 1930, this was part of an effort instigated by the Menasha Wooden Ware to create a business district in what they termed, the “English style of architecture,” to optimize use of the US 41 corridor which was then running down Washington Street and into Menasha. The Brin Building completed in 1928 was another part of this initiative but the rest of the business district was never realized.  Jefferson Elementary School is another example of this Tudor/Elizabethan Revival movement of architecture, distinguished by its fine half-timbering, slate roof, and leaded windows.  This ad is taken from the 1949 Menasha High yearbook, The Nicolet.

Slippery Seal

This ad from September 1969 showcases the latest attraction at the Valley Fair shopping center- the "Sensation of the Nation," the Slippery Seal, outside the W.T. Grant Company. No longer did we need to wait for the periodic carnivals to set up shop for 3-4 day stretches each year at Valley Fair or Fox Point Plaza in Neenah.  With the slide at one end and the go cart track at the other, there was full time recreation to be had while Mom and Dad shopped in climate controlled comfort.  

Post Office Dedicated

From The Daily Northwestern, July 10, 1933

NEW POSTOFFICE AT MENASHA ONE OF REAL BEAUTY

Thousands Visit New Federal Building When Thrown Open to Public Inspection

Menasha—More than 6,000 adults, according to critical estimate, filed their way into the new Federal post office building here Saturday, between the hours of 2 to 9 p.m. to voice their approval of the latest addition to Menasha’s progress.  Beautiful baskets of flowers carried expressions of congratulations to Postmaster C. A. Loescher and members of his staff and brought a touch of added beauty to the surroundings.

Expressions of delight were almost unanimous as visitors were ushered into the main entrance for a first hand inspection of the beautiful lobby.  Members of the postal staff served as guides as visitors were escorted first to the second floor and then to the workshop and basement.

The lobby, in particular, attracted most favorable comment, but enthusiastic approval was accorded the work room and executive departments.

Office accommodations for war department, internal revenue and civil service operations are located on the second floor.  The postmaster’s office is located at the southeast corner of the structure, and to the north of the lobby is the office of the assistant postmaster and money order clerk.  The work room extends entirely across the west half of the building and entrance is gained to the work room by way of the west side of the building.

(Prior to this, the post office had been located at 221 Main Street, roughly across the street from Grove's Clothing Store.)

Unbridled Honesty in Sportswriting

I found this passage in the first Menasha High yearbook to be particularly refreshing and charming in its honesty.  In today's competitive sports culture, could anyone ever write such a frank assessment of the team's season anymore?

from the 1916 Menasha High School annual (its first):

ATHLETICS

Basketball

The basketball season in Menasha High School was unsuccessful. This was due to the lack of practice on the part of the team. The boys had only one practice in a week, when they should have had a good one every day during the basketball season. The players did excellent playing when considering the time used for practicing, and they deserve no small amount of praise for the work which they did. The team was composed of excellent stock and therefore they surely could have had a good season had they had enough practice. The regular team was made up of Nathan Calder, left guard; Leslie Remmel, right guard; John Nagel, center; Elmer Williams, left forward; Carlton Remmel, right forward; John Nagel, center; and Alfred Hahn, Ferris Griswold, John Schierl, and Roman Fahrbach acting as substitutes at different games.

Next season, when we have our gym, the team will be able to practice regularly and then a more successful season will be witnessed. Leslie Remmel, John Nagel, and John Schierl will be out of high school, leaving Calder, Williams, C. Remmel, Griswold, Hahn, and Fahrbach to hold up the basketball end of athletics.

Silas Bullard

from THE MENASHA PRESS SOUVENIR EDITION, June 1898

  Hon Silas Bullard, representative of the Second district in the Wisconsin assembly, was born in Greenfield, Franklin county, Mass., on December 9, 1841. Like many another successful American in fact, like nearly all successful Americans, Mr. Bullard was not born with the traditional "golden spoon" in his mouth, but was obliged to win his way through life by hard work from early boyhood up. During his younger years he attended the common schools, and later entered Powers Institute at Bernardstown, Mass. Vacation times were not spent at play or in idleness, but were put in at farm work, whereby he earncd  his education not only at Powers, but later at Bridgeton Academy in Maine, where his schooling was finished. In 1867 he went to Portland, Maine and took up the study of law.
  Not long after his admission to the bar Mr. Bullard came West, and on August 4, 1871, took up his residence in Menasha, opening a law office. In 1873 and 1874 he was part owner of The Menasha Press, and did considerable editorial work on the paper. For many years he also acted as correspondent for a number of the leading Chicago papers, so that his experience with newspaper work has been by no means insignificant. During the twenty-seven years that Mr. Bullard has been a resident of Menasha he has been almost continuously honored by the people with one position of trust after another. First it was superintendent of schools for six successive terms; then mayor of the city in 1882; then county supervisor for seven years; then district attorney for four years, from '85 to'89; city attorney in 1882-3 and in 1893-4, 1894-5, 1895-6, and during the past four years member of the legislature from the Second assembly district. It is doubtful if any other Menashan has seen as much public service, and it is certain that no Menashan of the present or past has fulfilled every duty more faithfully or merited the trust and confidence of the people more fully than has Mr. Bullard.
   During all these years of public service, however, Mr. Bullard has not neglected his law business, and today he has a practice that takes him before almost every circuit bench in Northern Wisconsin and not infrequently to the Supreme court of the state. He is recognized by all who know him as one of the most careful, conservative and conscientious men in his profession, and his daily life in and out of court stands as a notable refutation of the slander that no man can be a lawyer and an honest man at the same time. In 1894 Mr. Bullard formed a law partnership with M. M. Schoetz, which still exists.
  As a legislator Mr. Bullard has won laurels of which any man might well be proud. During the session of 1896-7 he was one of the leaders in the lower house, serving as chairman of the judiciary committee, and exerting an influence for good on the legislation enacted by that body that was recognized all over the state. No member was listened to with more close attention during debate, and in committee his work was always productive of good results. The writer of this has known Mr. Bullard intimately for a quarter of a century, and he feels that he is indulging in no unwarranted commendation when he says that he knows of no cleaner, fairer or more upright man in public life. Mr. Bullard has a comfortable home on Broad Street, where he spends much of his leisure time. His family consists of his wife, and a daughter and son Mrs. Caroline Bullard Spengler, who lives at Hortonville, and Harry Bullard, of this city.
   It may be interesting to relate here that just around the corner from the office in which Mr. Bullard was pursuing his law studies in Portland, Maine, a great, overgrown, but exceedingly jovial and happy-dispositioned young lawyer was making his professional start. He was one of the kind that didn't seem to care a continental whether clients came or not, and few would have predicted anything but the most commonplace sort of a career for him, and yet today that awkward, briefless young barrister is Congressman Thos. B. Reid, speaker of the House of Representatives, and one of the best known among contemporary Americans.

In later years, Mr. Bullard  was vice-president of the First National Bank of Menasha and secretary and treasurer of the Paul Paper Company.  He died in 1922. 

Meadowview Dairy

                                                 

 

                      

Local dairies began closing in the 1960's due to the high costs associated with maintaining a small dairy.  In the mid 1940s, the Twin Cities had eight independent dairies.  They included Eskdale Dairy, Murphy Dairy, Neenah Milk Products (Galloway), and Marten’s, all in Neenah and Roselawn, Gear, Meadowview and Home Dairies in Menasha. 

Meadowview closed in late December of 1967 after 47 years of business in the Twin Cities because of the high costs of operation and the difficulties with small dairies competing with store prices on a retail delivery basis.

After Meadowview closed, the only remaining independent dairy in the Twin Cities area was Marten’s Dairy.  Morning Glory had already purchased the retail milk business from Galloway Company earlier in December 1967 and Menasha’s Gear Dairy merged with Morning Glory in May of the same year.