Yesterday in la Crosse
- When Mike Ditka, Ricky Williams and the New Orleans Saints called UW-La Crosse home with players like Joe Montana paying a visit December 20, 2024WIZMnews.com It was called the Cheese League. NFL teams holding minicamp across Wisconsin, and UW-La Crosse was host to one of those teams for a dozen years. Beginning in 1988, the New Orleans Saints called the UW-L campus home for a few weeks in the summer. From coach Mike Ditka, a rookie RB named Ricky […]
- A look back to 1959, as Mt. La Crosse celebrates 65 years December 13, 2024WIZMnews.com In December of 1959, the Mt. La Crosse ski hill opened for business, near Highway 35 in the town of Shelby. Ted Motschman and his wife Sue were able to lease 200 acres of hillside land for the ski slope, but more atop the hill was needed for the project. Five donors helped Ted […]
- Before the mall, Sears, J.C. Penney and Herberger’s ruled in downtown La Crosse December 6, 2024WIZMnews.com Before Valley View Mall opened in 1980, shopping in La Crosse happened downtown, mostly between 4th and 6th Streets. The big local name was Doerflinger’s at 4th and Main. At the opposite end of the same block, you could find Herberger’s on 5th, and not too far from there were Sears and JCPenney. For […]
- Did Wisconsin voters still love Lucey, 50 years ago? November 7, 2024WIZMnews.com In November of 1974, Wisconsin Governor Patrick Lucey spoke in the new North Hall of UW-L, now called Wimberly Hall. Democrat Lucey was seeking a second term, and told students he could not support a tuition cut approved by the Board of Regents, because that would put more burden on taxpayers to fund the […]
- The Coulee Region had a high jobless rate, 50 years ago, Yesterday in La Crosse November 1, 2024WIZMnews.com A newspaper story in November of 1974 called the jobless rate in La Crosse County “chronically high.” The rate was around 8-10% with thousands of people unable to find work. The story blamed labor walkouts and plant closings for the bad local economy, specifically pointing to the closings since the late 50s of three La […]
- A near record spring snowstorm, and a deadly crash, 50 years ago July 31, 2023WIZMnews.com In April of 1973, the immediate La Crosse area received 16 inches of snow in just 36 hours. It was the third biggest snowstorm on record in the city, behind snowfalls in 1959, and 1971. In Prairie du Chien, three cars collided on snow-covered Highway 18, near the Old Rock School. Six people from […]
- Men on the moon, money in the bank machine, 54 years ago July 18, 2023WIZMnews.com “Everybody gets to go to the moon” was part of the lyric of a popular song in 1969, but only three men actually got to take the trip. The first manned landing on the lunar surface happened on July 20th, 1969, a Sunday. Neil Armstrong took those first steps on the lunar surface during […]
- The U.S. suddenly had a new leader on Nov. 22, in 1963 November 22, 2022WIZMnews.com Nov. 22 in 1963 marked the last time that Americans woke up with a president who would not be alive by the end of the day. President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie had gone to Texas on a political trip when the president and Texas Gov. John Connally were shot while riding […]
- Time for a new courthouse, 60 years ago June 29, 2022WIZMnews.com In the summer of 1962, the La Crosse County Board okayed plans for a brand new courthouse and jail, to be built a couple of blocks up the street from the existing courthouse built 60 years earlier. The expected cost, just over 2 million dollars. Even at that price, the county was looking for […]
- No 29th this February, but Leap Day has had memorable music March 1, 2022WIZMnews.com It may be an Olympic year, but it’s not a leap year. February 29th in history has been memorable on occasion. On that day in 1940, “Gone With the Wind” won the Oscar for best picture…and a big band hit was number 1 on the charts: On February 29th, 1940, ”In the […]