Awful

August 28, 1888, Watertown Republican

Over the course of this blog, we've talked about the Whiting Mill, especially in the Menasha book, but we've not gone in depth about the tragic explosion in 1888 which took so many lives.  It was such a big event, newspapers covered it nationwide.  I present the Watertown version of the story, albeit a week after the event.  I apologize in advance for the lurid prose presented therein, but that was the style of the day, to pull few punches when it came to describing such things. 

Early Dance

June 27, 1968, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

When I was a kid, I would have died a thousand deaths to have had my photo in the newspaper like this.  But that was a different time.  With the recent controversy over the young prince in Great Britain taking heat for this activity by a member of the US media, dancers were quick to the rescue as bullying is now recognized for what it is and there is no shame for boys to be dancing.  I guess the general public thought male dancers just came by it naturally?

Dedicated Fans

October 10, 1977, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Building on yesterday's football-themed post, I suppose it won't be long before dressing like this will be required for those dedicated fans of our local teams.   Highs in the 50s or 60s, if we're lucky, will dictate the flannels and stadium blankets as these fans use.  Regardless of the weather, fall is football time, and an exhilarating experience for diehard fans, especially when the team is doing well.

It's Finally Football Time!

September 19, 1955, Twin City News-Record

You have to love the old timey illustration of the football player with the maskless helmet. Of course, this was the norm for the time and the era when the transition was occurring to encourage the use of masks. With their seven game schedules, it's no wonder they waited until October in two of the three schools to begin the season, stretching it out to a more traditional time.  Nowadays, they'll start in late August and end in October, just in time to begin playoffs.

Be Careful!

August 31, 1972, Appleton Post-Crescent

These young students couldn't look anymore "early 1970's" than this, could they?  And to think, today, all these years later, these kids are likely grandparents and watching their own kids' kids going off to school for the first time.

Reading Champs

September 18, 1959, Appleton Post-Crescent

Wrapping up another successful summer of reading at the library.  I pass by many elementary schools over the summer, and to a fault, the ones with message boards out front under their name, always say something to the effect of "Read, read, read."  Glad to see that some things never change.

School Can Be So Trying At Times

September 3, 1969, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

With the coming of the new school year, let's hearken back fifty years to some kids just finding their way through the first days of a new school year. Have pencil sharpeners changed at all over all this time?