Health & Fitness
The Greendale Review Newspaper - Revisited Week 16 - 4/8/39 to 4/22/39 to 5/4/39
The Greendale Review was Greendale's first newspaper and through 2013 I will post stories every Thursday from the early days of Greendale taken from the paper.
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.
Find out what's happening in Greendalefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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 Greendalefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
!!SPECIAL!!----For this week and next week, I am featuring only the stories from Greendale’s First Anniversary dedication and festivities on May 5, 6 and 7, 1939 in their entirety without any editing. This will tie in nicely with our own 75th Celebration and our National Historic Landmark Designation and 75th kick-off ceremony on May 1, 2013 in front of the Village Hall. Be a part of history and be there if you can!
The Greendale Review - Saturday, April 8, 1939
Greendale Dedication Set For May 5th and 6th
The theme of the dedication of Greendale will be “Clean, healthful living, respect, and long life…here where tolerance of individual hopes and joys, the freedom of worship, and the pursuit of happiness, will reign forever and all time…..”
With village committees working under the supervision of the Greendale Citizen's Association, and with the help of village and federal officials, the success of the dedication will be assured.
Preparations are going forward under the direction of George Page, Chairman of the Public Relations Committee, in cooperation with Recreational Committees under Mr. Reichardt.
On Friday night, May 5, the formal dedication will take place.
The speakers will be prominent men and women who helped make possible this village. Among them will be national and civic leaders.
After the dedication there will be entertainment for the enjoyment of all.
On Saturday, May 6, there will be open house at all points of interest. For the first time the sewage disposal plant, water works tower, heating plant, and fire department will be open for inspection.
In the afternoon there will be a pageant, which will depict the beginning of Greendale to its present status.
In the evening there will be a dance at which music by a prominent radio dance band is expected.
To make for more congeniality all around, there will be some of “Milwaukee’s Finest” to quaff the thirst with.
Within the next week penny post cards, imprinted with a photo of the village, will be distributed free for the asking. They are to be sent to friends and relatives inviting them to come to the village. Cards may be obtained at the Post Office, stores and the Village Hall.
Members of the committee in charge of preparations are: Ralph Smith, signs and decorations; Mr. Holton, decorations and lighting; M. Valley, dance and food; Arthur Marcus, publicity and sec’y of committee; George (Pat) Page, chairman of activities; Lee Sowin, chairman of the Citizens Association.
The committee will gladly accept any help or suggestions from anyone interested.
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Greendale Review – Saturday, April 22, 1939
Three Days of Festivities To Mark Dedication of Greendale, May 5 to 7
Plans and programs are in the final stages of preparation for the dedication ceremonies, May 5, 6, 7.
On those days, in sincere and friendly spirit, the citizens of Greendale will gather together to witness the formal dedication of their village.
On Friday, May 5, festivities will begin. At 3 p.m. Bob Heise, of radio station WTMJ, will bring his “Round the Town” broadcast to the center of the village to interview residents.
At the beginning of the broadcast, a huge fire-cracker will be exploded to announce that the celebration has begun.
Formal dedication services will take place in the evening at the Community Building. A splendid program has been planned and it is expected that many prominent men and women will be present.
Rev. F.P. Arnold, pastor of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, will make the invocation. Rev. Mohrhoff of St. Luke Ev. Luth. Church will give the benediction.
Seated at the Hammond Electric organ will be Walter E. Kroening, assistant community manager and former architect and planning engineer of the village.
Various organizations will contribute toward the program, and the presentation of the Greendale flag will also take place. The dedication ceremonies will close with community singing.
Open House Saturday
On Saturday, the government, municipal and school buildings will be open for inspection. School will be in session.
A pageant depicting the history of Greendale will be presented on Saturday evening.
The pageant was written and planned by residents of the village and the cast selected from local organizations.
On Sunday, the Greendale Volunteer Fire Department will compete with the Hales Corners Fire Department in an exhibition of speed and ability in responding to a fire. A water-fight will end the exhibition.
The dedication ball will be held Sunday evening, with Heinie and his Grenadiers furnishing the music and entertainment.
The garden club is going to plant and dedicate a tree during the festivities.
Tickets are now on sale for the ball at the Administration Building, garage, drug store, co-op store, barber shop and post office.
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HERE’S HEINIE!
The famous Heinie and His Grenadiers of station WTMJ will make a personal appearance at the Greendale dedication ball, to be held Sunday evening, May 7.
With Heinie will be the comedians of the band – Valter, Villie and Droopy. Valter is known as “heavy” man, playing the villain opposite Villie, whose forte is burlesques of other stage entertainers. Droppy, the third member of the trio, has already won the title of “the world’s worst teller of the world’s worst jokes.”
Everbody is assured of having a fine time with “good old Heinie.”
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Greendale Review – Dedication Edition – Thursday, May 4, 1939
Village Ready for Gala Celebration of First Anniversary, May 5 to 7
Pageant Portrays History of Village Up To Present Date
The pageant, written, directed and portrayed by residents of Greendale, will depict the history of the village from the first vague whisperings about housing to the to the present finished status of the fine homes the residents are enjoying. With a background of soft music, and multi-colored lights casting their beautiful rays upon the stage, the audience will see the seed of Greendale being planted, and watch it grow to the young sturdy tree it now is. They will be taken back a few years to Washington where the idea of a resettlement town originated and was planned, and will follow the trend of the idea to Wisconsin, and stand beside the planners on a hillside, looking down over a valley of farming land, as they choose the site for the village. As construction begins this valley soon becomes a web of streets, houses spring up in rapid succession, trees and shrubs are planted, thousands of people make application for the homes and after months of waiting, many receive their acceptance.
Again the village is alive with activity of cars, trailers and trucks piled high with furniture come rolling in; community activities are started and churches organized; traveling caravans supply food, the village is incorporated and elections are held. All this will be seen and more, too, at the pageant.
The pageant will be presented on Saturday at 3 and at 8:30 p.m. in the Community Building. The drama club and the teachers of the school are collaborating on writing, directing and costuming the pageant
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Be Sure To Attend Open House at these Buildings
OPEN HOUSE AT GREENDALE’S MODEL UTILITY PLANTS
The afternoons of Saturday and Sunday, May 6th and 7th, will be given over to inspection of the Central Heating Plant, Water Softening Plant, Sewage Disposal Plant, and the Incinerator Plant.
Walter E. Kroening, who was formerly Chief Designing Engineer, assisted by Messrs. Al Wolf, Softening Plant Operator and Utility Electrician; Dan Mackin, chief Fireman; Wm. Brown, Wastes Disposal Plant Operator, will act as guides. The schedule of the inspection is given below:
Sewage Treatment and Incineration Plants: 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, and 5:00 p.m.
Water Softening Plant: 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, and 5:30 p.m.
Central Heating Plant: 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, and 4:30 p.m.
Warehouse and warehouse yard: 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Mr. Sowin, Building Maintenance Foreman, and Mr. Stange, Grounds Maintenance Foreman, will be on hand to show people around the premises.
A visit to these plants will be well repaid. See the interesting exhibits at the Sewage Treatment Plant laboratory; learn how Greendale well water is softened; see the sewage purification process in action. Many mechanical robots automatically operate various phases of the Water softening and sewage purification treatment. These plants are considered the last word in public utilities. All Greendalers and their friends are cordially invited.
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Next week – Planning for the first anniversary continues!
Thanks to the Greendale Historical Society, for which I am a member, for providing the original newspapers.
Please leave a comment if you like these postings – thanks!
Steve Peters