Thank You!

Before I take this week off from the blog to regroup, let me acknowledge those of you who came out to see me at the Menasha Public Library on Sunday.  We enjoyed some vintage postcards, had a few laughs, and I met the nicest folks from the area.  Your interest in local history keeps me going, so I give you my heartiest of thanks!

My book, Neenah and Menasha: Twin Cities of the Fox Valley, is available locally at Lemon Loves Lime, the Menasha Historical Society, and in Appleton at The Frame Workshop.  More retailers are forthcoming.  Or, you can always get it at http://arcadiapublishing.com.

I'll return to the blog next Monday, May 7th.  See you then!

Repurpose

I've featured this dramatic photo before- a traditional symbol- of government, of banking, of strength.  This Corinthian column is one of four that once decorated the old First National Bank at 175 Main Street, as seen in the photo postcard below. 

And now, the columns gain new life, put at the end of Mill Street near the waterfront to create a small park that will soon accommodate small civic events and serve as a gathering area for downtown employees, residents and visitors.  Located less than a block from where they originally were, the columns not only acknowledge the history of the First National Bank, but also pay homage to other architectural aspects of Menasha's past.

And a reminder to come see me Sunday at the Menasha Public Library, or if you can't, I'll be at Your Daily Grind on Saturday from 10 am-1 pm.

Old City Hall Revisited

 

What with my attention drawn to postcards with the release of the book this week. I thought I'd feature this post from four years ago.  I've always like this card, with this circa 1908 view of the old city hall.  It still had its bell tower and was a city landmark and a source of civic pride.

 

This postcard of the old city hall/fire station predates the expansion of city government and the necessity for more office space.  By 1917, the old city hall had become cramped and the city purchased the old First National Bank building.  This was not the stately columned ediface, but rather the original bank to the west.  The next year, the police department moved out of city hall to a property just west of the Menasha City hall.  After these moves, the old city hall was used by the Fire Department and the Common Council until 1963.  In that year, the First National Bank building constructed in 1917 (the columned one) was purchased by the city and merged with the older building next door, as the bank was building its new facility across Main Street from the Bank of Menasha.  Combined, the two buildings now housed city offices and the council chambers.  The old city hall remained in use by the Fire Department until the 1970s and eventually was demolished in the 1980s. 

Trolley Map

from Badger Traction, 1969, by Central Electric Railfans' Association, Chicago, IL

The blue line shows the Neenah-Menasha trolley line that joined the Twin Cities and also offered service beyond to Appleton to the north and Oshkosh and Fond du Lac to the south.  Beyond the city limits, the lines were known as interurbans.  The book states that, "When the trolley fever reached the area, it was natural that promoters of the city systems would also reach out to build links with other cities along the Fox waterway.  By early 1904, it was possible to go from Fond du Lac, at the south end of Lake Winnebago, to Green Bay by trolley, but the trip involved changing cars at Oshkosh, Neenah, and Kaukauna."

And for the geographically challenged, the map of Omro was just put on this page to save space in the book. 

Starting Year Seven

Wow!  It's an exciting two days here at the blog.  First, yesterday brought the release of my new book and now today marks my sixth anniversary here.  I started this blog in 2012 to promote my book, Menasha, which was coming out in June of that year, by featuring photos and stories that were not represented in the book. Over time, the blog took on a life of its own and now features over 1450 blog posts over those years.  We've covered everything from the historic to the frivolous and some things that were just caught in-between.  On this anniversary day, I thank you wholeheartedly for your interest and support over the years.  Your interactions, requests, and commentary have helped me keep this a joy to work on every day.

A Big Day! (For Me)

Today is the official release day of my second book, Neenah and Menasha: Twin Cities of the Fox Valley.  This book uses picture postcards from my personal collection to examine the history of the Twin Cities as they were represented during the "Golden Age" of postcards.  I am giving a talk at the Menasha Public Library on Sunday afternoon, April 29th at 2 pm and I will have books for sale afterwards.  Please see the flyer reproduced below.

Please feel free to bring in your own postcards if you like.  My book is available now for order at the web site below, or come out to see me on April 29th. The book will also be available at local retailers in the Fox Valley yet to be determined.  I hope to see you there!

https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9781467128261

Resists Moisture!

This is a 1942 advertisement for wax paper manufactured by Menasha Products Co, a division of Marathon.  David C. Everest, the head of the firm in its most expansive years, stated frequently that “people will quit the eatin' habit last.”  Evidently this fueled his pick of his company's products, to insure its success throughout the years.  While not a resident of Menasha, he nevertheless had significant impact upon the city via his association with Marathon from his headquarters in Wausau.  You can read more about him at this site:  https://www.paperdiscoverycenter.org/inductees/dc-everest/