Valentines

February 7, 1908, Menasha Record

This particular Valentines Day fell right in the middle of what was termed the "golden age of postcards."  The Universal Postal Congress decreed that government-issued postcards in the United States could contain messages on the address side beginning March 1, 1907. In line with these changes, the United States Congress passed an act which extended this to privately produced cards, thereby ushering in the "divided back" era of postcards, which lasted until World War I. On these cards, the back is divided into two sections: the left section is used for the message and the right for the address. Before that, the illustration had largely been marred by the sender's message, for there was no other place to write it.

Found

February 6, 1964, Twin City News-Record

Now here's a strange case, to say the least.  Imagine finding something alien like that as you swim.  I'm sure the robbers thought the register would be a part of the river for a long, long time to come.  

Erudition

 January 19, 1889, Saturday Evening Press

Let's start the week with some groaning humor, 1889 style.  Of course, this wouldn't fly today.  And today's "influencers" wouldn't even know what a trip to the woodshed meant.  (Oh, there I go again, sounding like the proverbial "old man" telling the kids to get off his lawn, lol.)  

Hey Pal!

January 27, 1931, Appleton Post-Crescent

Interesting list of pooch names.  With the popularity of motion pictures, I'm surprised there wasn't a Rin Tin Tin in the bunch.  Or even a Petey, the dog with the ring around his eye from the Little Rascals.  (And you wondered where the Target dog got its inspiration, lol.)  Toto wouldn't appear until 1939.  And as for Lassie, she wouldn't come along until the mid-1940's.  

Libraries Three

January 14, 1899, Oshkosh Northwestern

Menasha was in good company with Appleton and Oshkosh in the public library sweepstakes.  As fitting for the times, the buildings were classic and built to last, monuments to their respective towns and the envy of outliers.  One wonders what Neenah felt like without a similar edifice.

What's In a Name

January 13, 1899, Appleton Post-Crescent

Interesting thought.  But I am surprised the idea wasn't "Neenasha" or "Meenah."  Of course, the simplest thing would have been to suggest "Neenah-Menasha" as a compromise.  Hey, it works for Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  

Plucky Politicians

 

January 24, 1947, Appleton Post-Crescent

For a couple of local politicians who, by this time, must have been used to the "rubber chicken circuit," these two seemed to do an admirable job at plucking their own dinners.  The two mayors proved themselves to be a couple of good eggs.  (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)