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.
This week’s posting will be my last in this series.
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.
Find out what's happening in Greendalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Also, just a reminder - Greendale first opened to residents on May 1, 1938
GREENDALE REVIEW – Wednesday, May 29, 1940
Find out what's happening in Greendalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
School Plants Tree in Memory Grove
Again this year the Greendale school participated in an impressive tree-planting exercise emphasizing the conservation of natural life. The ceremonies were held on the grounds east of the school building on Friday, May 17.
After the invocation was given by Rev. Mohrhoff, Mr. Ambruster, principal of the Greendale school, gave a short talk in which he pointed out the significance of the occasion. Then he presented the tree to the ninth grade graduating class in whose honor the tree was being planted.
In accepting the tree, Earl Cutler, the spokesman for the class said, “We dedicated this tree to the memory of the second ninth grade class to graduate from the Greendale School. It is placed here in the belief that the preservation of our trees and our natural life be of great importance to future generations.
“It is fitting that our class plant this tree in Memory Grove, which has been dedicated to past and future graduating classes.
“Since we believe that no class could have a better memorial than a tree, we hope that succeeding classes will carry on the tradition which the class of 1939 instituted and which we are perpetuating.”
The third and fourth grades also sang vocal numbers appropriate to the occasion.
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Honest Neighbors Return Lost $75
While walking down Schoolway May 17th Mrs. Sam Geracie, 5726 Clover Lane and Mrs. Harvey Kaeshammer, 5722 Beaver Court, found $75.00 in bills in front of 6322 Schoolway. The money was immediately turned in at the police station and was later called for by John Spratler, 6322 Schoolway. The $75 was lost by Mrs. Spratler while making a call on a neighbor. Phew! Quite a relief getting the money back wasn’t it John?
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Why Not March With The American Legion This Memorial Day?
The American Legion post at Greendale, is planning a Memorial day parade to start from Bluebird Court and Northway at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 30. All organizations are invited to participate. Services will be held at the flag pole base following the parade. In case of rain, services will be held in the community building.
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Greendale Post Sells Over 1,800 Poppies
The American Legion wishes to thank all those who contributed so generously to their Poppy Day fund. The Greendale Post also sent sixteen workers to participate in the Milwaukee Drive on Saturday. The workers were located at 35th and Vliet and 27th and Fond du Lac corners. They reported a sale of over 1,800 poppies.
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Telephone Petition Dismissed by Public Service Commission
Claim Greendale Rates Fair for Area Covered
MADISON, WIS., MAY 23—Dismissal of the complaint of residents of Greendale Village, Milwaukee County, alleging that rates of the Wisconsin Telephone company are exorbitant was announced today by the public service commission.
The commission pointed out that an amendment to the original complaint asked that subscribers in the Greendale area be placed on the Milwaukee exchange and declared that if such a change were made the rates would be prohibitive to most of the residents who already were complaining about the costs which compared favorably with rates for similar service elsewhere.
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Child Hit by Car, No Serious Injuries
Monday, May 20, 2-1/2 year old Barbara Ernberg ran into the street in front of her home at 5584 Basswood and was struck by the front bumper of the car driven by Eli Pudhowmer of Milwaukee. Dr. Kores found that Barbara suffered only from skinned knees and face.
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First Award For Sculpturing Goes To Alonzo Hauser
Alonzo Hauser, the creator of the group of sculptured figures around Greendale’s flagpole, and the bas reliefs on the exterior of the Greendale school, has been awarded first prize in sculpture at the Wisconsin Painters and Sculptors annual exhibition, held April 4-30. His figure was of Martha Graham, the dancer.
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CHIEF TAYLOR TO RESCUE
What would you do if you opened your rear door and found a snake sunning itself on your porch? Very likely you would do the same as Mrs. Niels Olson, 5721 Clover Lane; call the police. Chief Taylor made short work of the unwelcome visitor, a large grass snake.
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WILL GREENDALE BE TRANSFORMED INTO ARMY BARRACKS?
The rumor has again arisen that the householder’s lease in Greendale provides for vacating of all homes within 30 days in case of war. There is no actual basis for this rumor. Nowhere in the original lease is there any such clause, nor in the amendments to the lease each one is asked to sign as the old leases expire. No one can say for a certainty what would transpire if or when our United states are plunged into war, and surely, in case of such a calamity, we would do such things as are necessary to meet the emergencies which would then arise. However, at the present writing, you may be assured no such move is being contemplated.
If you do not have a copy of your lease, one can be read at the administration building. A concise statement on the amendments was recently published in the review.
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New Lights in Park Around School
Two additional light standards have been installed in the vicinity of the Community Building park area according to Walter E. Kroening, Assistant Community Manager and Village Engineer. One of the lamps is located at the intersection of the walks leading from the south end of Azalea Court and from Northway extending south of Arrowwood Street and the other at a point southeast of the School where the walks from the north end of Dendron Lane and from the Tennis courts join.
Some difficulty was experienced last week with special rectifier tubes used in the street light control equipment, which caused the lights to remain burning after the normal time in the morning. Necessary repairs and replacements were made as soon as the special parts were available.
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It has been a fun and interesting year reading the old newspapers and posting some of the stories here. It gave me more insight into what Greendale was like in its early days and helped to reinforce my admiration for this community.
I’m not sure how many people actually read these posts as I know of only a few that told me they read them, but anyway, for those that did read them, I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did.
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 gifts!
Thanks,
Steve Peters
