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
Find out what's happening in Greendalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
GREENDALE REVIEW – Wednesday, February 7, 1940
ACTIVITES OF TROOP 505
Find out what's happening in Greendalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Ten boys from troop 505 are going to encamp at Indian Mound located on Silver Lake. They are leaving Saturday morning and will return Sunday night.
Feb. 5th to 12th is National Boy Scout Week. The troop is planning to observe it by attending church as a troop, and also inter-troop activities. We wish to thank the Recreation dept. of Greendale for purchasing 55 merit badge pamphlets, and hand book for patrol leaders. They will be kept in the library and are available at all times.
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POLICE NEWS
Officer Warren Hale has been presented with a small fingerprint outfit by L. V. Boardman, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation at Milwaukee, as a compliment for the fine progress he has been making in his study of personal identification.
Officer Hale has been specializing in Fingerprint Identification since joining the Greendale Police Dept. and has been making rapid progress in this phase of Police work.
Officer Joseph Kollross is making a check in the village to see how many dogs there are and also which ones should be licensed. All dogs over six months old must have a license. These licenses can be secured from the village clerk between the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on any week day. Line up and don’t push.
Officer George Flannery has been transferred to the Second Detail (4 p.m. – 12 midnight) and is concentrating on the parking violations in the village. People are depending too much on getting warned before getting a summons. Too much abuse of a good thing may cause summons to be issued for the first offense.
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GREENDAL REVIEW – Wednesday, February 21, 1940
Police Arrest Two
Two pan-handling offenders were picked up by the police. One of these cases proved to be a mental case, which was finally referred to the County Hospital for observation. This emphasizes the importance of all citizens reporting to the police promptly the presence in the village of any vagrants, pan-handlers or suspicious looking persons. Prompt action in cases of this kind often prevents possible criminal acts. Four calls were answered by the fire dept. in January. One false alarm, and three were minor fires.
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HIGH PRAISE GIVEN REVIEW CALENDARS
Dr. Will W. Alexander, Administrator of Farm Security Administration, was impressed with the calendar which the Greendale Review prepared and sold with the aid of various village unemployed, and commended it and the purpose in a letter to Community Manager Reeder.
Pleased by the calendar, Mr. Reeder sent copies of it to a number of officials in Washington as a useful gift and as evidence of the initiative and imagination that goes into Greendale community activities, he says. Dr. Alexander was one of those receiving one and he recently penned his appreciation to Mr. Reeder and commented on it.
“This is indeed a worthwhile community undertaking.” He wrote.
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Abuse of Electric Power Continues
The management states it has received reports that electric vaporizers or humidifiers are being sold throughout the village. The use of such equipment for the control of humidity is not permitted by the terms of the residence lease, according to Sherwood L. Reeder, community manager. He further stated the proper humidity can be maintained in homes by keeping the water pan of the furnace filled at all times.
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MINOR EXPLOSION AT INCINERATOR PLANT
A bottle wrapped with garbage exploded in the Incinerator last week while refuse was being charged into the Incinerator unit. Flying pieces of glass missed operator Bill Brown by a narrow margin, according to a report received from Walter E. Kroening, village engineer. This is another instance of what can happen because of improper segregation of wastes by householders.
Kroening further stated that repairs to the Incinerator were necessary and would be made in the next few weeks. The work includes the replacement of some of the fire brick which were ruined by glass in the garbage. The contemplated work will cost about $180.00, which is rather costly when considered that it might have been saved by the proper segregation of refuse materials.
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PLEASE!
Discarded Christmas trees are still in evidence in yards throughout the village. In many instances tree stands are still attached and refuse collectors question whether the stands are to be picked up together with the tree.
Residents are asked to cooperate in removing stands if they wish to keep them and to place the discarded tree near the large refuse cans on collection days.
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FIREMENS’ NEWS
A man biting a dog is always news and so is a firemen calling on his department to put out a fire! Dan Mackin’s car was the cause. Now Dan is looking for another used auto body.
On January 24 the department fought a fire outside the village limits. Some of the men were an hour late for work. Speaking of fires the department answered 32 alarms last year, seven of which were false.
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SEWER CLOGGED
Rags, old clothing, and even overalls are still finding their way in the sanitary sewer system and were the cause of a recently clogged sewer, according to Walter E. Kroening, village engineer. Residents are cautioned to refrain from throwing any rags into toilet fixtures since considerable expense can be entailed in their removal.
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ODDS & ENDS
The trophy which was donated through Art Marcus for the winning team in the Greendale Major softball league will remain in the custody of the Greendale Recreational department. The name of the winning team will be inscribed on the band of the trophy. A trophy case is being planned in which all trophys won by various teams will be placed.
For a full evening of entertainment attend the Thursday evening basketball-football games at the community gym.
For the latest style in basketball trunks get in touch with chief of police, Taylor. The white trunks he wore Thursday evening really were cute.
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Next week – Neighboring High School Students Show Interest In Village.
Thanks to the Greendale Historical Society, for which I am a member, for providing the original newspapers.
Steve Peters
