Pages

Downtown 1958

Downtown 1958

Monday, December 23, 2024

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!


I am taking a break from the blog until after the New Year, so please accept my fondest wishes for a terrific holiday season.  Spend time with your loved ones if you can, recharge your batteries, and live in the moment.  Thank you for suppporting this endeavor; I appreciate each and every one of you!  

Friday, December 20, 2024

Hair Work

 

December 26, 1878, Saturday Evening Press

Frankly, I had never heard of such a thing until good friend Google let me know that this was a big deal in the late 19th century.  Follow this link to see some examples:  https://mb.nawcc.org/threads/human-hair-watch-chains-1870-1900-era.128889/

The things you learn from doing this job, lol....

Thursday, December 19, 2024

Christmas Candy by the Pail

 

A 1931 ad in a grocers' trade journal touts the advantages of shipping and selling bulk candies in a pail produced by the Menasha Wooden Ware.  Eventually wooden pails for shipping goods would be phased out. By the mid-1950s, pails were not even manufactured anymore by the firm, having been overtaken by corrugated boxes and the like.

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Valley Fair Stands Ready and Willing...

 

December 2, 1961, Appleton Post-Crescent

Here at the blog, regular readers know that the blogmeister loves himself some Valley Fair memories from way back.  So he was thrilled to find this shot of the center court in all its geometric glory to offer his readers.  Many a Christmas shopping trip began...and ended there.  

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

A New Kind of Hobby

 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.  

Monday, December 16, 2024

Sales Mart

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.  

Friday, December 13, 2024

Holiday Dreams?

 

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.