Main Street Looking East

This is a rather grainy photo, but this view east looks like it was taken from the roof of the bank.  I originally thought it was taken from the roof of the hotel.  But the roof to the bottom right looks like the corner of the Hotel Menasha before the addition in 1916. (My thanks to David Mulvey for the correction.) 

With what appears to be a vehicle in the center and with the unpaved street, I'd say it's pre-1910.  And look how large St. Mary's looms in the distance. 

George Martin, Fur Tanner and Dyer

An interesting ad from the 1905 city directory for a profession that, more than likely, isn't too prevalent anymore, nor politically correct either.  But Mr. Martin must have done all right though, for he was in this business at least through 1924, as he appeared in that year's edition as well. 

Early Leaders

Reading through a 1986 survey of Menasha's historical structures, I came upon the above passage and it made me think. 

Nowadays, we tend to think exclusively of the largely German and Polish populations of Menasha, but that immigration swell didn't occur until the latter part of the 19th century. 

We forget ithat the town was originally built upon the backs of New Englanders and New Yorkers with names like Reed, Smith, Hewitt, Lawson, and Scott.

And as a result, the early retail establishments with the names above appealed to those settlers and reflected that segment of the population. 

Only much later did we get the likes of Tuchscherer's, Loescher's, Wanserski's, Stanislowski's (Stani's), and many others of a more ethnic bent. 

Renard '52

The inside cover page of the 1952 St. Mary's yearbook, right before the construction of the nicknamed "52 Building" which would obscure the foreground of this photo.  Ten years later, another addition- the "'62 Building"- would replace those trees between the high school and the church.   A new high school opened west of US 41 in 1997.  SInce then, the campus has been altered even more to accomodate the needs of St. Mary Elementary. 

Menasha Welcomes Its Winning Band

May 25, 1931 Oshkosh Northwestern

June 12, 1931 Oshkosh Northwestern

 

Menasha High School's performance at the 1931 state band tournament as reported on last week earned it a trip to the national contest in Oklahoma.  There, it earned a first place in marching and a fifth place in music, after some initial intrigue in the scoring. Menasha was, needless to say, justifiably proud of its namesake band.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

This Monday is Memorial Day. Please take a moment to give some small measure of thanks for those who gave all for our freedoms.  I'll be back Tuesday.  Happy Weekend! 

 .

Wanserski's

May 14, 1968 NM Northwestern

 

I thought I'd featured Wanserski's at another time in this blog, but it appears I'm thinking of the book.  Despite my faulty memory, here's a fun little ad from 1968, featuring their chef logo.  Wanserski's was only too well known for its meats.  I had many a lunch where the highlight was the delicious ham salad from their deli. 

School Days

It looks like a nice day to bike to Menasha High in 1946.  Dad's home from the war, the mills are bursting with activity, and the world never looked brighter.  The dawn of the age of the Baby Boomers is upon us.  Can the Eisenhower Fifties be far behind?