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, June 3, 1939
NEW VILLAGE POLICE OFFICERS ASSUME DUTIES
Police and Fire Depts. Will Be Combined
Organization of a Public Safety Department by the village of Greendale and appointment of Robert E. Taylor of the Wichita, Kansas, police department is announced by Sherwood L. Reeder, village manager.
The new department is composed of a police force of four men, including Chief Taylor, and a volunteer fire department. Appointment of Taylor and the three officers as of June 1.
To start the department off on a merit basis and ensure its staffing with police officers of high qualifications, candidates for the force were subjected to rigid examination and selection was on the basis of the grades they made. A board of three outstanding personnel and police work conducted the examination under procedure recommended by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
The three officers selected to serve under Chief Taylor are George Flannery, Warren Hale and Joseph Kollross. They were chosen from more than 40 candidates as the three highest rated men in the examinations. The candidates all were subjected to written, oral, medical and physical tests, and character investigation. The three men chosen are all residents of Greendale, though a number of men not residents of the village were among the applicants. The men will be on probation for a year and will be given intensive training in police and public safety work by Chief Taylor. …
“We do not anticipate our police will have to deal with much of a crime problem except as they cooperate with other police departments.” Reeder says, “but we want a competent force to cope with any problem in public safety. …
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ROLLER FOR RENT
As an accommodation for their customers the local co-operative service station has placed a lawn roller at their disposal. The roller may be secured at the station at a rental charge of 15c per hour.
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CONSUMER PROBLEMS GROUP PROTESTS SALES TAX
Personal letters opposing the pending sales tax will be sent to Senator Busby and to Assemblyman Arthur Balzer by the Consumer Problems group of the Greendale Woman’s Club.
This tax is similar to that now in effect in Illinois and will amount to three cents on a dollar, falling most heavily on the small consumer. The Consumer group urges other organizations and people in Greendale to join in this protest.
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POLICE AND FIRE CALLS
A Hales Corners telephone has been installed in the Safety Building for the convenience of the villagers in calling the police or in giving a fire alarm. The number is 225-R2 or if you forget the number just ask the Hales Corners operator for the Greendale police or fire department.
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GAME ROOM ANNOUNCEMENT
Charles Murdaugh, Recreational Director, announces that the game room in the Community Building will be closed until next fall.
In making the announcement, Murdaugh stated that the Recreation Department appreciates the assistance of W.P.A. leaders and volunteers from the village for their contribution in making the activities held in the game room successful.
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A YEAR AGO
On June 2, 1938, the management provided a free shuttle bus service operating between the Village Hall and 60th and Forest Home, so that workers and High School students without cars could get to and from work, and school. June 8 the public Service Commission held a bus hearing. A movement was already under way to obtain a co-op.
Residents were getting acquainted. The verdant lawns on Northway were visions of “Green Pastures” to the hopeful applicants en route to their Village Hall appointments. Ah, but what was so rare as a day in June – in Greendale? Greendale was undergoing the metamorphosis from a village of empty houses to a village of well filled homes, as the narrator in the pageant so aptly put it: “childrens’ voices everywhere”.
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MEMORIAL DAY PROGRAM
Greendale’s Memorial services consisted of a parade to Memorial Park where a tree, in memory of the war dead, was planted, services held and a wreath made by the Girl Scouts placed. The parade started at the Village Hall consisting of all school children led by the boys and girls scouts, with Greendale mothers assisting. They paraded south on Broad Street to Schoolway, West on Schoolway to Memorial Park.
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GREENDALE REVIEW – Saturday, June 17, 1939
THOMAS MELVIN, G-MAN TO SPEAK HERE WEDNESDAY
A special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Thomas Melvin, will speak on the work and functions of the Federal Bureau in the Community Building, Wednesday evening, June 21, at eight o’clock.
On this evening a special guest night sponsored by the Greendale Women’s Club will be held to which the men of the community as well as the women are invited.
Experienced in Crime Detection
Melvin comes to talk to Greendalers from a wealth of experience in the field of investigation and crime detection. He was graduated from Georgetown University School of Law, receiving his LL.B. degree in 1926, and has for over twelve years served as a special agent. …
… Recently added, is the FBI’s new technical laboratory, where examination of documents, handwriting, bullets, in short any material clue, is carried on. Greendalers are urged to attend this important lecture. It will be the last regular meeting of the Woman’s Club this summer.
Following the lecture, refreshments will be served.
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CENSORS O.K. MOVIE
Erwin Koenigsreiter, manager of the Greendale Theatre, announces that the film, “The Birth of a Baby”, is definitely not a sensational type of picture, but is classed as educational by the censorship board.
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PARKLAWN CELEBRATES SECOND ANNIVERSARY
The second anniversary of Parklawn was celebrated Saturday, June 10. A varied program, held from 2:30 to midnight, was sponsored by the Parklawn Management, Social Center, Tenants Association and Community News.
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FOX, NOT WOLF, AT GREENDALE’S DOOR
Postmaster Edward Bengs and his wife were returning from Hales Corners last Friday afternoon when they saw a silver fox in a field adjoining the highway about a mile from Greendale. Bengs says the fox’s pelt was badly matted and it appeared to him that the fox had probably escaped from a fox farm. The fox ran into the brush when Bengs attempted to approach it.
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Next week – Fourth of July Parade Planned.
Thanks to the Greendale Historical Society, for which I am a member, for providing the original newspapers.
Steve Peters
