Yesterday in la Crosse
- 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 […]
- Central High at the state basketball tournament was low-scoring, 97 years ago March 1, 2022WIZMnews.com In 2017, Central High School won its first state basketball championship since 1925. The final score of that game was 55-53, against Cedarburg — a very high-scoring contest compared to March of 1925, when the La Crosse High School defeated Shawano at Madison in what one newspaper described as a game with ‘cautious playing’ […]
- Where you could find a good restaurant, 32 years ago? How about the airport? January 13, 2022WIZMnews.com In early 1990, Amelia’s restaurant opened on the upper level of the new terminal at the La Crosse Municipal Airport. Owner Jerry Kulinski said nothing on the menu was over $5. The name Amelia’s might remind people of pioneering female pilot Amelia Earhart…while some of the sandwiches served there included an “Orville and Wilbur burger” […]
- Remember when Bob Dole marched in the Maple Leaf Parade, 33 years ago? December 7, 2021WIZMnews.com The Maple Leaf Parade of 1988 in La Crosse fell just a month before a presidential election, and it drew a frequent presidential contender. Republican Sen. Bob Dole walked with several Wisconsin members of his party in the parade, including Senate candidate Susan Engeleiter, who was running to succeed retiring Democrat William Proxmire. Dole […]