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Life in the La Crosse area in the 1940s
From the A look at life in La Crosse from 1900-1987 series
- Scott Rada
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From Tribune files: These photos showcase the history of our region and feature many familiar places and faces.
1941: Electric streetcar
An electric streetcar heads south in the 100 block of North Fourth Street, then a two-way street, in this snapshot taken in March 1941. Streetcar service in La Crosse ended 70 years ago, Nov. 11, 1945, bringing to a close a mode of transportation that began here in 1879 with horse-drawn cars followed by the advent of electric cars in 1893. Buildings of note in this photo, all which have since been razed, are the National Bank of La Crosse with its Greek temple look, the five-story Stoddard Hotel and the post office with its signature tower. The date of this photo was determined by the Rivoli Theater marquee, at left, which notes Clark Gable and Hedy Lamarr starring in “Comrade X,” a movie that appeared at the Rivoli from March 8-12, 1941, according to Tribune files. Anyone with more information about this photo or wishing to donate photos of the Coulee Region may contact the La Crosse Public Library Archives at 608-789-7136.
La Crosse Public Library archives1941: La Crosse Interstate Fair
On horseback and holding an Old Style Lager flag, Brownie Beck leads harness racers during the 1941 La Crosse Interstate Fair in a photo taken by the late Gordon Feinberg (1915-1990) of La Crosse. At that time, the fairgrounds were located on and in the vicinity of what is now Memorial Field on the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse campus. Anyone with more information about this photo or wishing to donate photos of the Coulee Region may contact the La Crosse Public Library Archives at 608-789-7136.
La Crosse Public Library Archives1942: Kiddie Hour picnic
A group of youngsters attends a “Kiddie Hour” picnic at Myrick Park 75 years ago, during the summer of 1942. "The Kiddie Hour” was a popular local variety show featuring performances by Coulee Region children that was broadcast on radio station WKBH from 1926 to 1955 and on WKBT TV 8 from 1955 into the 1960s. The show was sponsored by La Crosse’s old Erickson Bakery, which is the reason some of the children shown here are wearing bakers caps. Anyone with more information about this photo or wishing to donate photos of the Coulee Region may contact the La Crosse Public Library Archives at 608-789-7136.
La Crosse Public Library Archives1942: Camp McCoy POW camp
An early 1942 view of the World War II prisoner of war camp on South Post at Camp McCoy (now Fort McCoy) near Sparta. From 1942 to 1946, this complex housed Japanese and German prisoners of war and also served as a detention center for German, Italian and Japanese civilians arrested as potentially dangerous “enemy aliens.” This snowy scene, with the fence at right under construction, was taken shortly before the first prisoners and detainees arrived at the camp 75 years ago on March 9, 1942, according to Tribune files. Anyone with more information about this photo or wishing to donate photos of the Coulee Region may contact the La Crosse Public Library Archives at 608-789-7136.
Library of Congress1945: Longfellow School
Longfellow School students exiting their school at 19th and Denton streets circa 1945.
Longfellow was dedicated 80 years ago on Jan. 19, 1940, with a program in the school auditorium attended by 700 people. From 1940 to 1960, Longfellow served students from kindergarten through ninth grade, with elementary classes held in the 19th Street wing of the building and junior high classes held in the Denton Street wing.
From 1960 to 1980, the school was a junior high serving grades seven through nine. Since 1980, Longfellow has been a middle school with grades six through eight.
Anyone with more information about this photo or wishing to donate photos of the Coulee Region may contact the La Crosse Public Library Archives at 608-789-7136.
La Crosse Public Library Archives1946: La Crosse YMCA
A scene from the Sunday, April 14, 1946, edition of the La Crosse Tribune shows a game of badminton played at the YMCA with this caption: “One of the most popular sports among senior YMCA members is badminton, which is played every Monday and Thursday night at the Y. In the picture a bit of action is shown during last Thursday night’s session. About to drive the shuttlecock over the net on the left is Joe Dribben, a veteran of the game, while Fritz Frey, his partner, awaits action from the other side. Walt Rennebohm and Bob Roellig are the other two men pictured.” Anyone with more information about this photo or wishing to donate photos of the Coulee Region may contact the La Crosse Public Library Archives at 608-789-7136.
La Crosse Public Library Archives1947: W.T. Grant
W.T. Grant was the first tenant of the Hoeschler Building, which is located at the corner of Fifth Avenue and King Street, when it opened in 1947. The national retailer closed its La Crosse location in 1975. Today, the building is known as King on Fifth and occupied by a variety of offices.
Tribune file photo1948: The Ringling Bros. Circus
Elephants with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus head south on Second Street between Vine and State streets on July 28, 1948.
La Crosse Public Library Archives1948: Sears
Frank J. Hoeschler completed work on the Sears building at Fifth Avenue and King Street in 1947. Although the building remains, Sears left for Valley View Mall in 1980. Today, the three-story structure, known as King on Fifth, houses a variety of offices.
Tribune file photo1948: The Sias Isles Boat Livery
A circa 1948 view of Sias Isles Boat Livery, which was located on the Black River at the foot of Irvin Street in Onalaska. This boat rental enterprise, which at one time was popular with fishermen from around the country, dated to the 1930s and was operated by Ben and Floyde Sias of Onalaska. Ben died in 1950, but his widow continued to operate the livery in later years. From 1970 to the late 1990s, the livery was run by either Carl or Ronald Schams, according to Onalaska Directory files, with the business last listed in the 1997 directory. The site of Sias Isles Boat Livery is now occupied by Onalaska’s Waterfront Park. Anyone with more information about this photo or wishing to donate photos of the Coulee Region may contact the La Crosse Public Library Archives at 608-789-7136 .
La Crosse Public Library archives1948: Grand Hotel
The third floor of The Grand Hotel, located at the corner of Third and Pearl streets, is being removed in this 1948 photo. The building, which was built in 1885, was earlier known as the Eperson House and was one of the city's top hotels at the start of the 20th century. In 1948, the Tribune reported that the building had "continued to slide and gradually degenerated into something of a flop-house, offering shelter to knights of the road and other unfortunates with near-empty pocketbooks." Today, the second floor of the building has apartments, and the first floor has been home to a variety of bars, most recently Coconut Joe's, which closed earlier this year.
Tribune file photo1948: Centennial parade
This 70-year-old scene from La Crosse’s city, county and state centennial parade of July 17, 1948, shows the parade’s grand prize entry — a replica of an old Mississippi River steamboat — as it headed west on Jay Street from Fifth Avenue. Named the SS Fifth Avenue, Port of La Crosse, it was sponsored by Fifth Avenue merchants and was complete with a whistle, calliope, passengers and a rotating paddle wheel. An estimated 60,000 spectators turned out for the parade, which was nearly two hours long and included 150 units, according to Tribune files.
La Crosse Public Library ArchivesIn this Series
A look at life in La Crosse from 1900-1987
Scott Rada
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From Tribune files: These photos showcase the history of our region and feature many familiar places and faces.
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