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Health & Fitness

Greendale Review Newspaper - Revisited Week 50 - 5/1/40 to 5/15/40

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, May 1, 1940

   MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS

Find out what's happening in Greendalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

   Once the resident of a housing project, always the resident of a housing project. Mr. and Mrs. John D. Lange who recently moved to 5622 Beaver Ct. had the interesting experience of being pioneers in the first experimental housing project in the U. S., Radburn, New Jersey, in 1929. Because of this they have an unusual insight into problems of a village like Greendale. In Radburn as in Greendale, there were a great variety of people, moving in from larger cities, lacking a village feeling, and inexperienced in governing themselves. Their experience has shown them that the only solution to these problems is to “keep your eye on the goal – the objective, of communal living”. And for the special benefit of Greendale’s women, Margaret Lange says “I’ve found that a village is the women in it, and what they make of it.” Mr. Lange is the assistant senior administrator in Greendale. They have two children, Greta, age 8 and John, age 5.

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   What Do You Know About the Budget?

      It’s Hardly as Forbidding as It Sounds

   Have you ever wondered where your money goes after you spend it? You receive services and goods for money disbursed, and as far as you are concerned that is the end of the transaction. But that money continues on its magic way; it is paid out, divided, paid out and divided infinitesimally.

    When a person pays rent to a landlord or real estate company he assumes that parts of that rental money go for taxes, repairs, upkeep, and other expenses, but it is not his concern what it is used for or in what proportion. In Greendale this does not hold true. Each resident can follow his rental money into many divisions.

   Rent Money Pays Budgets

   The village budget, the school budget and federal expenditures come directly out of rental money. The village budget for the nine month period from April 1, 1940, to December 31, 1940, is $58,744.

   The fiscal year for village affairs has been from April 1 to March 31, but this is being changed to a calendar year basis, which accounts for the village operating on a nine month fiscal period at this time.

   The school budget for the school year starting in September, 1939 is $57,975, which includes state aid of $9,319.28 and personal property tax levy of $387.44.

   In addition to these two budgets there are federal expenditures for management and maintenance. There are certain contributions from other sources, such as the rental of the business district and personal property taxes.

   There are 637 families or units in rural and urban Greendale. Out of each monthly rent payment, $10.25 goes for the village budget, and $6.31 for the school budget, and an undetermined amount for federal expenditures, interest, etc.

   Breakdown of Village Budget

   On the basis of spreading the village budget by months over the number of urban and rural residents, disregarding the contributions made by other agencies than the rent of residents, we find the following amounts are contributed per month per unit for these various purposes:

   Elected employees of village, both  salary and expenses pertaining to their operations  ….. $    .13

   Other administration salaries and expenses  …..     .76

   Public Safety, salaries and total operations  ….. 1.20

   Public Health, entire dept.  …..     .12

   Education, entire dept.  …..   1.66

   Recreation, entire dept. salaries largely supplied by WPA .....   .66

   Public Works, entire dept., Includes garbage and ash collection, care of lawns and parks, snow removal, maintenance of sewage disposal plant  .....   3.71

   Contingent fund  …..      .62

   Operating reserve fund  …..   1.39

   Total cost per month per unit  …..$ 10.25

   Governmental Expense Small

   Of the $58,744 nine month village budget, $5,010 is assigned to governmental expense as follows:

   Salaries and expenses of elected representatives…..$ 657

   Salaries and expenses of appointed administrative employees and operations  …..  3,870

   Judicial department, salary and expenses  …..  120

   Election officials and Board of Tax Review, salary and expenses 363

   Total nine month governmental cost  …..  $5,010

   Division of School Budget

   Building fund  …..$  2,000

   Salaries of faculty and clerical help  …..41,925

   Books, seats and supplies  …..6,000

   Janitorial  …..6,400

   Nurse  …..500

   Dentist  …..200

   Transportation of pupils who live more than 2-1/2 miles from school  .....200

   Miscellaneous  …..250

   Total school budget  …..$57,975

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   ARCHERS TO GO OUTDOORS;

   CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES

   Very soon the archery range will move outdoors, but construction of bows and arrows will continue on Tuesday evenings at 7 in the community building.

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   SHOP NOTICES

   Porch screen makers will meet at 7:15 p.m. in the woodshop to discuss methods and specifications.

   The adult shop will close its winter season on Thursday night, May 16.

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   GREENDALE REVIEW – Wednesday, May 15, 1940

   Dance Celebrates 2nd Anniversary

   600 Enjoy Program at Community Building

   More than 600 people danced to the rhythms of Russ Mund’s 4-piece orchestra celebrating Greendale’s second birthday at the community building, May 4.

   Not only did they dance, but they sang and watched a fine program of entertainment arranged by Gretchen Kunze and Art Bigler. The Boy Scouts opened the program with a color guard and salute to the flag. The crowd sang “God Save America” with enthusiasm.

   Howard Barr, as commentator, presented the village officials and explained Greendale’s government from its inception to the present board. The rest of the program included Mary La Grange, singing Oh Johnny; Frances Husher, singing Alice Blue Gown; Audrey Hennig, Alvoy Hooper, and Marilyn Zarnow, dancing the Doll Dance; Mary Land, presenting an acrobatic dance; Mmes. Muench, Hiller, Lucas, and Zillmer, tapping the St. Louis Blues and Mrs. Hiller and Alice Semrau playing guitar duets.

   An unexpected pleasure was provided at the intermission when Rolans Paul of Milwaukee accompanied impromptu community singing.

   Refreshments were served by the Woman’s Club, the Boy Scouts took care of the checking and the Fire Department dispensed beer at their stand. The citizens’ Association and these organizations split the profits from these concessions equally.

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Next week – Governor Heil’s Car Is Seen In Village

Thanks to the Greendale Historical Society, for which I am a member, for providing the original newspapers.

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Also, please check out my new Greendale history book:

'Greendale, Wisconsin - Then and Now'

See some of it here:

http://peters-design.com/index_files/Page1920.htm

Contact me if you are interested in purchasing one or more copies. They will make great Christmas gifts!

Thanks,

Steve Peters

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The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?