With this year being the 75th anniversary I thought it might be interesting as well as fun to look back at Greendale’s beginnings from the viewpoint of its own residents and local news stories of the day. Every Thursday through the end of the year, I will be posting humorous, relevant or just interesting stories from Greendale’s original newspapers.
The following selected stories are copied exactly as they were originally written (including some misspellings) unless otherwise noted. Some may be shortened with “…”. They will be in bold and italicized type.
Also, just a reminder - Greendale first opened to residents on May 1, 1938.
GREENDALE REVIEW – Saturday, May 20, 1939
Grange Ave. and 60th To Be Paved
Walter E. Kroening, Assistant Manager, has announced that paving work on Grange Avenue from 60th to 76th Street and on 60th from Grange Avenue to Edgerton will be started next week. The paving will consist of sheet asphalt, 16,000 gallons of tar, and 2,000 yards of gravel.
Kroening also stated that a contract is being prepared for the furnishing and installation of street lights along Grange Avenue. These street lights will be operated by an astronomical clock which will automatically turn on the lights one hour after sundown and turn them off one hour before sunrise. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VILLAGE MANAGER APPOINTS VILLAGE OFFICERS
Sherwood L. Reeder, village manager, has appointed George Redmond to the position of village clerk, and Robert E. Smith, treasurer of the village.
These appointments are made under the manager type of government under which Greendale is governed and are for an indefinite period. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
POWER FAILURE NO FAULT OF GREENDALE
The power failure which occurred on Sunday evening, May 7, during preparations for the Dedication Ball was due to trouble on the Wisconsin Electric Company’s high voltage transmission line.
Three Electric Company trouble shooting crews were immediately dispatched to correct it. The fault was discovered at St. Martins, a neighboring community, according tom Walter E. Kroening, Assistant Manager.
All of which gives rise to the question “Under what frustrating circumstances did the frolicsome maestro of Heinie’s Grenadiers discover himself when illuminant energy became unavailable?” –or, in his own words “Ver vass Heinie fen der lides fent oudt?”.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Find Your Name and Get Theater Passes
Tucked away among the advertisements in your Review are ten lucky names. If you find yours, you are entitled to a free pass to the Greendale Theater! If your husband or wife finds the name too, you will both see a picture with the compliments of Erwin Koenigsreiter, proprietor of the theater.
Be sure to start looking now, because this offer expires ten days after the date the Review is published. Bring identification along to the box office. This offer will appear in every issue of the Review until further notice. The list of lucky names will be posted at the Greendale heater. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIRM REFUSES VILLAGE DIRECT TELEPHONE SERVICE
OFFERS SLIGHT REDUCTION OF 25 CENTS PER MONTH.
Cost of Linking Greendale Directly to Milwaukee Prohibitive
The Wisconsin Telephone Company has refused to give the Village of Greendale direct phone service to Milwaukee, according to Stephen Gminski, chairman of the citizens’ Association Telephone Committee, which met with officials of the Telephone Company Monday night, May 8, in the Administration Building.
Instead of providing Greendale with direct service to Milwaukee, the Telephone Company has offered a slight reduction in its present rate of $2.25 a month for an eight party line connected with the Hales Corners Exchange. Under the new offer, the Telephone Company would provide Greendale with service to Hales Corners on a $2.00 a month basis for a four party line. Calls made to Hales Corners would cost an additional 5c and a charge of 10c would be made on toll calls to Milwaukee from Greendale. …
…The Telephone Company further claims that the only service available at present for Greendale is through the Hales Corners exchange, and that the cost of linking Greendale directly to Milwaukee would be prohibitive. The present rural Milwaukee service terminal is only a very short distance from Greendale. … ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WE NEED A MARKET
What if anything is being done to provide our Greendale farmers with a spot in the village to display and sell their farm produce?
It seems that from the dim distant past there comes a faint echo of a promise that a green market would be established where the producer and the resident could meet on common ground and bargain.
Can we – or are w going to – do anything to make this echo a reality?
Has the Citizens’ Association or any of its committees any plan whereby this proposal can be made a reality? Is there any good reason why this green market could not be a success?
Nic L. Schmidt
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LET’S HAVE ANNUAL CELEBRATION
The villagers should be duly appreciative of the tremendous effort set forth by the First Anniversary Committee of the Citizens’ Association in making our first milestone one that will long be remembered.
And as long as the ground work for this celebration is laid let us make this an annual affair and invite the state at large to join in on the festivities.
Again many thanks to all the hard workers who missed out on the festivities in order to be of service to their fellowmen.
Nic L. Schmidt
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOP SOIL AVAILABLE FOR GREENDALE RESIDENTS
A stock pile of good top soil is available for Greendalers. It is located on the north side of Grange Avenue near Alba Court on “Job No. 35”. Residents are warned against removing any top soil from the stock pile located along Southway, since this soil has been transferred to W.P.A. for use in Greendale’s landscaping program.
The removal of top soil from park areas is forbidden. --------------------------------------------------------------------- PLAY CENTERS TO OPEN
According to an announcement made today by Charles Murdaugh, Recreational Director, play centers for children eight years old or younger will be open at certain specified times beginning Monday, may 22.
The play centers will b open in the morning only every day with the exception of Sunday.
All play centers will be supervised by W.P.A. recreational leaders thus insuring the safety of children.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
MANAGEMENT SERVICE MEN HAVE NEW CAPS
You no doubt have noticed the new military caps worn by Greendale service men. They are for purposes of identification and are readily recognizable by their Hollywood Tan tops with the word “Greendale” embroidered across the front. Only wearers of these caps are authorized to do work on government or village property. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next week – New Village Police Officers Assume Duties.
Thanks to the Greendale Historical Society, for which I am a member, for providing the original newspapers.
Steve Peters
