Yesterday in La Crosse

Where you could find a good restaurant, 32 years ago? How about the airport? January 13, 2022
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” and […]
Remember when Bob Dole marched in the Maple Leaf Parade, 33 years ago? December 7, 2021
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 had […]
The president took a lap around the La Crosse County speedway, one year ago October 31, 2021
A week before the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump held a late afternoon campaign rally at the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem. Then-candidate Trump rode around the track in his limousine before the Oct. 27 speech, where he called challenger Joe Biden “soft” and “weak” and accused the Democrat of wanting to delay […]
Peshtigo goes up in flames, 150 years ago October 8, 2021
You’ve heard of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871…but there was another large fire, in Wisconsin, on the same day, yesterday in La Crosse. October 8th marks 150 years since devastating fires caused death and destruction in Chicago…and in the woods of northern Wisconsin, at Peshtigo. Strong winds have been blamed for causing small […]
Dinner at the Tivoli, then a movie at the Rivoli…still possible, 51 years ago September 30, 2021
In 1970, the Tivoli Restaurant off Highway 35 and the Rivoli Theater downtown were both busy places in La Crosse. The Rivoli was celebrating 50 years in business in 1970. As for the Tivoli Gardens, that’s not around any more. It was on the George Street extension between La Crosse and Onalaska, about where you’d find […]
The future of the city might depend on building a parking ramp, 65 years ago September 30, 2021
During the summer of 1956, a committee planning a ramp on Market Square met at the Hotel Stoddard, and was told that a lack of downtown parking was keeping customers away from city businesses. The panel heard that shoppers from Black River Falls and Whitehall were going to Eau Claire instead of La Crosse, and […]
Making the roads safer in Minnesota, 18 years ago July 30, 2021
In 2003, the Minnesota DOT had a public meeting in the La Crescent area to discuss long-range transportation plans. One project high on the local list was a plan to make the Dresbach interchange safer. Some deadly crashes had occurred over the years at the intersection of Highway 61 and I-90, near the bridge that […]
Holy Moses! Fighting over the 10 Commandments, 36 years ago July 30, 2021
In the summer of 1985, Madison’s Freedom from Religion Foundation launched its first effort to have a 10 Commandments marker removed from La Crosse’s Cameron Park. It was the most prominent complaint anyone had made about the stone monument since it was installed in to honor volunteers who battled the 1965 flood. About 800 people […]
Pig races were a big attraction at Riverfest, 11 years ago July 9, 2021
During La Crosse’s Riverfest in 2010, a Missouri company called Swifty’s Swine featured hogs racing around a track. Race watchers could cheer for their favorite animals, with names like Brad Pig and Kevin Bacon. The Puttin’ on the Lips competition at Riverfest was back, after a year off. The lip-synch event based on a popular TV show […]
Opening day for the new City Hall, 51 years ago July 2, 2021
Saturday, July 4th, 1970, La Crosse dedicated a 6-floor City Hall, which is still La Crosse’s main office building today. It replaced the City Hall that stood for nearly 80 years at the corner of 6th and State, now part of the post office parking lot. La Crosse’s oldest living mayor, 86-year-old Gus Boerner, cut […]