Special Green Bay number, 1951: The Wisconsin Magazine

140 Pages·1951·46.803 MB·English

containing four original articles
by HAROLD T. I. SHANNON
More than 200 Pictures and Biographical
Sketches of Who's Who in Green Bay
The Stories of Green Bay Industry,
Business.and Cultural Life.in Pictures,
History, Facts and Figures
323 EAST WISCONSIN, MILWAUKEE
you are invited to visit
for fashions of distinction
f
~ I'. ~- \
~ .
\ .
(
\
SPECIAL GREEN BAY NUMBER
1951
Copyright 1951 by MADISEN PUBLISHING COMPANY
We Greet the Citizens of Green Bay
DEDICATED to the City of Green Bay and its en These Green Bay leaders
virons, this edition of The Wisconsin Magazine in government, business and
is today current readfog. In the years to come, it will the professions readily rec
Erik L. Madisen
become a precious historical document. ognized the value of such a
Approximately two decades ago, Green Bay was work, and gave their gen-
similarly featmed in an issue of The Wisconsin Maga erous cooperation to compile the material.
zine. Those copies, wherever they still exist, are price No claim is made that this edition is complete. The
less. Many of the community leaders of that day have publishers have tried to evaluate the mass of compiled
passed away, but the record of their contributions to data to decide what would best tell the city's story to
the progress and well-being of the city are a matter of posterity. There are limitations, of course, to the
record for posterity, reposing in the historical archives. amount that can be converted to print.
Without any desire to be boastful, we say that this If we have accomplished notning else, we hope the
special Green Bay number is the largest and the finest reading of this issue will stimulate the pride of Green
our staff has ever produced. This pride of achievement Bay citizens in their ideal community. Profound tribute
does not belong entirely to is due the men and women who through the earlier
our editors. It belongs to years builded so well, with courageous vision for the
one of the finest groups of future.
civic-minded persons \\·e CHARLES c. l ELSON
have ever encountered. ERIK L. MADISEN, Publishers
..
,
',,.--
THE WrSCONS.IN MAGAZINE-Owned, edited and produced by Charles C. Nelson and
Erik L. Madisen. Published by Madisen Publishing Company, 1205 W. Prospect Ave.
(MaHing address-P. O. Box 409), Appleton, Wisconsin. Price per copy- 50 Cents.
C. C. Nelson
WISCONSIN MAGAZINE 1
v\l
2 ISCONSIN 1\IIAGAZINE
Is Mammoth Project of Skilled Planning
Keeping the City's Face "Steadfast Toward the Future" Is
Mayor's Goal, While Meeting Today's Expansion Needs
H AROLD T. I. SHANNON
GREEN BAY during the ad brick, pipe and agricultural lime. It city of Green Bay. New plats, sub
ministration of Mayor Dominic also operates a large scale ready-mix divisions wi.Lh hundreds of new homes
Olejniczak has kept its face concrete service as well as a greatly are going up with such rapidity that
"steadfast toward the future." expanded wholesale and retail coal they seem to have been set down, not
The young mayor has put the future business. house by house, but all at once.
abreast of the present in his long range Likewise ·wisconsin Public Service One of Green Bay's blueprints for
planning for the city. Such policies Corporation now has its multi-million the future lies in its faith and belief
have not only won the warm support dollar electric plant on the bay shore that the city will one day be a major
of large numbers of citizens but also and has erected a million dollar office port for large ocean-going vessels.
the enthusiastic support of the ma building. This utility in expanding its Transcending a!J of its 300-year de
jority of businessmen, large investors facilities has made Green Bay Lhe velopment this building of the long
in the city, and most of the city second city in ·wisconsin for electric proposed St. Lawrence-Great Lakes
councilmen. power. waterway 11·ill serve as Green Bay's
As a result, Green Bay has employed The last few years alone bear wit greatest opportunity.
a full-time city planner and it has a ness to the remarkable growth of the
For 25 years obstructionists have
master map for the future with a plan petroleum products business here. In
been influential enough to defeat the
in the making. Green Bay of tomorrow 'this short span Green Bay has emerged
sea1rny project but the waterway is so
will be a vast, integrated area that will from its insignificant status as a stor
sound, its necessity so apparent that
include new industries, new streets, age point for gasoline to the largest
it will be built, either little by little,
parks and bridges. Right now these gasoline storage port on the Great
or all at once as a national defense
are but paper developments, but they Lakes. Every large petroleum com
measure. Smaller European vessels
are all planned and staked out and pany has major gasoline farms here
traverse the lake route now, bringing
will become very real and useful by now and nearly all of them are l.ocated
foreign cargo, mostly pulp, to the
the time the next generation of Green in nC\rly developed industrial areas.
port of Green Bay.
Bay's citizens grows up. These are near the river where millions
The important point is that Green
Green Bay's industrial growth in of gallons of petroleum products come
Bay "ill be ready. With the lakes-to
recent years has been phenomenal; in by tank ships. In turn, these are
ocean seall"ay this city will become a
immense investments in property and piped to the huge storage tanks for
very important point for the assem
business operations have been made. later distribution by rail and highway
bling of cargo en route to European
One example is seen in the Hurlbut tank units.
and other world-wide ports. The har
Company. Building a vast industrial This and similar building and ex
bor will develop rapidly, docks and
enterprise in a new industrial area, pansion actually has occurred without I
warehouses, terminal facilities will be
this company today manufactures large public awareness. Bright new I
built with the result that new manu
huge quantities of concrete block, little cities have developed within the
factories with an eye to export trade I
will spring up quickly. I
Foremost in Mayor Olejniczak's
The Mayor of Green Bay-Hon. Dominic Olejniczak dreams for Green Bay, and one of the
powerful reasons he sought re-election
GREEN BAY has made great progress under the management of its young full-Limo this spring fot· a fourth te1m, is the
and native son l\'layor. proposed "one-stop" government serv
Elected Councilman in 1936 at ·the ago of 27, M,r. Olejniczak was the youngest man ice building. The proposed building
ever elected to the City Council up to that time. He was 1·e-olected by his neighbors
will house all city, county and state
for the next term. without opposition, in the ward in which ho was born. Then he
was re-elected in 1940and1942. offices in one central buildjng, with a
He did not seek a fifth term in the Council, but three years later, in 194·5, l1e was sports arena extending from one side
n01ninated and elected ·Mayor. At 36 he was the youngest G~·een Bay l\1.ayor. He was of the central skyscraper and a civic
twiee re-elected after vigorous campaigns whieh brought out record votes. Ho re a1:1ditorium from the other side.
sisted pressure ·to run for Congress saying ho would rather be l\'layor for anothct•
term to complete tho guidance of programs ho had pt·om.ised tbo people and which. Green Bay's 50-year old City Hall
were not completed. · must be replaced soon, but city. plan
As tho cmnpaign for his 4th term hegan, he had two opponents. As the elcclion ners are not thinking in terms of a
neared, both withdrew and l\'Jayo1· Olejniczak was elected in 1951 without opposition.
new city hall. They want a modern
Ho asked the voters to give him a vote of confidence and eneourage1nent anyway, and
received the largest vote ever cast for him. government service building to house
vVrncoNsrn MAGAZINE 3
all city departments and adequate sport has ardent devotees and contests twins. They are practically one build
council chambers and committee rooms. here attract large crowds from all over ing. The arrangement is convenient
They want to pull back into one the state. With such an arena profes to the public but most inconvenient
central address the 17 scattered agen sional basketball, boxing, hockey, in to the occupants. The historical mu
cies which function today in rented door ice skating, shows, expositions, sewn needs to expand so that its
quarters spread all over the city. tournaments could appear at once on priceless exhibits may be more effec
The county also acknowledges a the scene. Who will say that they tively presented and the hundreds of
crying need for office space. Moreover, would not succeed and be good for new things already owned by the
Brown County started the ball rolling Green Bay and bring many thousands museum may be exhibited.
when it appropriated money for a of people to the city. Whether it will be the library or
suitable war memorial. The county Green Bay also is the center of museum that will remain on the public
plan would put all of the county's de musical and cultural events for the square is not known for sure by any
partments and services in the big, new same large area of the state. Concerts one as these lines are written. What is
government building and leave the here are sold out long in advance and sure is that both a larger and finer
present substantial Court House to the seating capacity of school audi library and a larger and finer museum
the courts exclusively. Like Green toriums limits the budget of the as very soon will be serving Green Bay's
Bay, Brown County has no less than sociations and promoters sponsoring expanded needs. One will be at the
10 county services operating in scat these events. Only this spring the present site, the other, all new, will
tered, rented quarters. Civic Symphonette and Community rise at a different location. Both will
In the interest of public convenience Theater jointly presented Victor Her be built with the long range view of
and service the state would be ap bert's, "The Red Mill," and gave the modem service to a city of more than
proached, if such a building material performance on four consecutive nights 100,000-a city with many visitors,
izes, to take over floors in the building to sell-out audiences. many public services and an uncom
and thereby centralize the many state If it is to keep its place in the sun monly high use of library and museum
services, including the large highway as the north-state center of activity, services.
engineer's department. Green Bay needs both a sports arena Green Bay's new Federal Building
Such a building has been discussed and a civic auditorium- not either, is, at long last, assured. The federal ;;
and sketched. The mayor, for four but both! An attempt to combine the government is now definitely com
years, has had a committee working two buildings would be certain to be mitted to erect a new post office in the
on the war memorial. What progress unsatisfactory since sports and cul full city block recently acquired by
will be made or how soon it will be tural events are quite unalike in their trade and purchase from the county.
made depends upon too many things requirements. Both the arena and the Although known for the last 30 years
to determine Jany outcome of this concert hall would make Green Bay's as Legion Park, this block has been
proposed war memorial, a "one-stop" stock as a convention city shoot sky owned by the county and was the site
government service building. However, high. Already the state's favorite con-' of the old court house and county
Green Bay has had a way through vention city, Green Bay, does a re office building. The plans for the big
most of its history of getting the markable job of securing and staging modern post office building again are
things it has really wanted. conventions with woefully inadequate plans that look forward to the future
Green Bay right now has a great accommodations. and the needs of a second-class city
need for a sports arena big enough to Green Bay soon will have either a with vastly expanded industrial and
accommodate at least 5,000 people. larger public library or a new his commercial service demands.
The city is the sports center of the torical museum building. At the pres The next federal court established
whole northern half of the state. ent time Kellogg Public Library and in Wisconsin will be at Green Bay.
Practically every athletic game or Neville Public Museum are Siamese And this is not far off. Now accepted
.
'
Will the future of Green Day be like this? This drawing of a Green Bay area reflects one of the serious planned develop
.Dlents which local citizens are bearing about.
4 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE
. r
Approximately 50 years ugo, Green Ray's harbor and waterfront lookc<l likc Lhc view at the left, looking southeast. It is
quite a contrast Lo the modern day scene at the right, looking north.
as the terminal city for a large part of east river) will be landscaped and a m i.llion dollars. It should be noted
the state and also a most convenient beautified and reserved for public use. here that the city school system serves
location because of exceptional high This in time may extend the whole only slightly more than half of the
way, railroad and air facilities, the length of the little river. It will mean Green Bay students. Two Catholic
much needed federal court will be acquiring perhaps a thousand acres high schools, eight crowded Catholic
established here. Whet.her such a court which are now farm lands and home grade schools, two Lutheran parish
will be created before t.he post office sites. By zoning and cooperation of schools and a Seventh Day Adventist
plans are completed may determine neighboring townships, building and school are attended by nearly half the
whether provision for it will be made Janel use can be controlled in this park school children. Expansion and im
in the new federal building. zone and a very good start has already provement go on here, too. Large
Green Bay's face is steadfast toward been made. Canoeing, water sports, parish school additions were opened
the future. In Mayor Olcjniczak's ad Venetian nights, camping and picnic this year and one Catholic parish has
ministration, this preparing for the accommodations, horticultural projects committed itself to a Inillion dollar
future has taken definite shape and and artistic plantings are in the plan. building program, mostly for a huge
Green Bay's City Council in its official Of course, \Yater pollution has been modern school with auditorium and
decisions considers, with almost equal one of the big setbacks to water-front gym.
thoroughness, the immediate needs development and the even greater use The Elks lodge has purchased a
and their fitting in to t.he city's master of the city's waterways for the public large downtown site for a modern new
plan and official map for the future. good. It has been a problem of the clubhouse. The University of Wiscon
Green Bay has its first integrated city's largest industries, too, and they sin has considerable expansion planned
and comprehensive industrial zoning disliked it as much as the public did. for its Green Bay branch. The
plan and law. This has been slmdy and More has been accomplished in the Y.W.C.A., the Knights of Columbus
carefully thought out, fought out, and last two years on the program to elim and the Eagles have plans well ad
mapped out. This includes a master inate pollution and clean up the rivers vanced for spacious new buildings.
roadway plan, locations where future and the bay than in all the previous Wisconsin-Michigan Power Com
bridges will cross the river, express years of its existence as an annoying pany has announced its plan to erect
highways, through streets and a sensi problem. The solution of this problem, a 25 million dollar generating plant at
ble through-street pattern for large however, will open a new era of use Green Bay, near the Wisconsin Public
areas which are not yet even parts of and enjoyment of the city's natural Service Corporation's immense Pul
the city. beauty. The paper mills' part, alone, liam Bayside plant. The proposed
The original city planners dotted in this program, will cost several mil plant will not even serve the Green
their maps with "commons"-little lion dollars. Bay area, but the two non-competing
rest parks one block square. These no As a prospect of things to come in plants will be wonderful stand-by
longer qualify for the modern use of parks and park use, we need only ob equipment for each ot.her in case of
parks. Green Bay, in its master plan, serve that no Wisconsin city has made any power shortage or breakdown, a
is not only marking off huge acreages greater progress in the last few years factor new industry will not overlook.
for park purposes but is actually ac than Green Bay in park development, Two deep artesian wells were brought
quiring parcels of land to join onto acquirement of park lands and year in recently to augment the city's
these parks and parkways, the munici round recreation. As the Mayor puts drinking water and its fire protection.
pal golf course, arboretum and accom it, "It's just a matter of staying in the Another large capacity well is now in
modations for the year round recreation groove and keeping up the pace." the process of construction and a
programs which already arc enjoyed · o city in Wisconsin can boast fourth will be sta1ted soon.
by many thousands of children, youth finer schools than Green Bay. A site Green Bay will continue to expand
and adults. has already been selected for an addi as the medical center of the whole
Beginning right at the big Joannes tional junior high school. Three new north country and to attract more of
Park, the banks of the historic Devils grade schools are in various stages of the better doctors and specialists
River (more frequenLly called just the complet.ion and have cost in excess of
(Continued on page 14)
WISCONSIN MAGAZINE 5
CENTERS OF CATHOLIC WORSHIP
6 W1sco ·srn lVIAGAZINE
Traffic '"asn'L much of a problem on 'Vashinglon Street in the pioneering days shown at the left, as compared ""ilh the
sa1ne street today, as sho,vn at the righ l.
Gives Green Bay Precious Heritage
Silent Sentinels of the Past Remind the Citizens
of the Qualities Which Make It a Leader
HAROLD T. I. SHANNON
T HERE are many ciLics which are tangibles, perhaps, is Green Bay's home (and business) site, are the larg
like boarding houses . . . the American Heritage. est-number of authentic historic build
people, the pastors, teachers, The first white man to set foot in ings and house museums in any city
merchants and industries seem to come what is now ·wisconsin, what was then in the middlewest. Not replicas nor
:and go ... nothing is very deep-rooted. "the West," anived at Green Bay in restorations, but in the most part,
The impermanence is high-lighted by 1G3..J:. This was 27 years after the first exactly as they were when occupied
;industries making the best of impro permanent settlement in America at by their builders or other distinguished
•
·vised quarters built for very different Jamestown, H years after Plymouth occupants, these buildings stand guard
purposes. Rock. over the American Heritage of this
Through more than 300 years of People have been coming to Green very old, and history-rich community.
bistory, 112 years as a chartered city, Bay ever since. It is a teeming market Roi-Porlier-Tank Cottage was
through wars, booms and panics, cenLer with retail establisl}ments and erected by the French trader Roi, in
<Green Bay has been one of America's volume reflecting patronage many 1775. It is of wattle construction. It is
most dependable industrial and com times the population of the city. It is Wisconsin's oldest building. Thousands
mercial small cities. Of the tangibles the preferred convention city of the pay it respectful calls every year. They
Jor which management looks in estab state. It is near river, bay, lake and study the quaint interior and furnish
]ishing a home and headquarters, hillside sports, near favorite fishing ings, most of which trace directly to
·Green Bay has an uncommonly high and hunLing grounds, the varied sum the distinguished Otto Tank who led
:score. However, there are intangibles, mer and "'inter resort attractions, and established the Moravian settle
too. These make Green Bay a better ideal golf courses; it is attractive to ment in Wisconsin.
place in which to live, a better place executives and employees, conducive The bujldings of old Fort Howard
'in which to work, a better place in to good human relations. People like were erected in 1817 and many a
which to conduct a permanent busi Green Bay. The percentage of homes famous name is a.ssociated with them.
-uess. Most influential among these in- owned by their occupants greatly ex Zachary Taylor commanded h\lre. Dr.
ceeds the national average. People, as William Beaumont, famous medical
well as industries and businesses, come scientist, was stationed here and
to Green Bay to stay. worked on his monumental Lhesis on
Catholic churches, lop lo bottom,
left column: SL Willcbror<l, St. John, Green Bay's la.res and penates, the digestion. His desk, instruments and
Sts. Peter and Paul. iiLulary gods who \\·atch over the city artifacts are among the authentic his
Center column: t. Phillip, Annun and who no doubt have exercised im torical objects school children and
ciation, St. Joseph, St. i\lutthcw.
measurable influence upon the char history-minded tourists see all year
Right column: St. Francis Xavier,
St. Patrick, St. Mury. acter of the city and its success as a around.
W rscoNSIC\' MAGAZIN1;; 7
Around 1875, the scene at the left was typical of me.·cantilc establishrnenls downtown. This is about the location of the
present Ford-Hopkins store. The sign reading ·'Joannes Brothers" allests the age of one of Grceu Bay's prominent concerns
still in business. One would remark, "How Li1nes have changed," when comparing thfa with today's \Valnut Street, looking
setttb. c~
\Visconsin's pioneer businessman, of good citizenship which obligates It is not a far-fetched conclusion
political leader, waterways promoter, those who occupy the lands and enjoy that Green Bay's American Heritage
Morgan L. Martin, erected his pictur the advantages which first brought has influenced psychologically the even
esque home "Hazelwood" in 1835 and law and order, religion, schools, gov tenor of Green Bay industrial and
it is only slightly different today. ernment, civilization and culture to commercial history of "never a boom
One of the most impressive vistas this part of our nation. nor a bust," and influenced the un
that tourists come to experience is These are intangible. They play no commonly high quality of products
from Cotton House, the most beautiful exaggerated part in the life of this which Green Bay workmen make to
example of Jefiersonian architecture most modern and cosmopolitan small be imprinted "Made in Green Bay."
in the West. It stands atop the high metropolis. However, this heritage is It has had something to do with the
land where American infantrymen a po,verful influence for pride and fact that people who come to Green
(1820) guarded the river commerce community responsibility, neighbor Bay are there to stay. Probably it
and the little shantytown which was liness and cooperation. It is a Green helped to maintain the proud record of
the original Green Bay. Bay spirit manifest even in so diverse management-employe relations which
Days are spent by tourists visiting a subject as the professional Green has characterized Green Bay's whole
the historical monuments and markers. Bay Packers football organization. industrial, commercial existence.
No small city in the middlewest has
more, because Green Bay had most of
the "firsts" in Wisconsin and the new
West. The first settlers, the first busi
ness, the first church, school, news
paper, military establishment, court
and judge. Here is where Wisconsin
started. Three national emblems flew
over Green Bay and three nations
erected fortifications here: France,
England and the United States.
Green Bay takes these things in
stride but they are a part of the life of
the city. They are the silent sentinels
which remind native born and perma
nent residents, investors and builders OFFICERS OF THE GREEN BAY ROTARY CLUB- (lcft to right) Leo V. Gannon,
of the rich heritage of courage and vice-president; John L. Ross, president; Karl M. Fcldhausen, secretary; C. H. Flint,
treasurer. Rotary Club was organized in Green Bay in 1917 and holds the proud record
freedom and patriotism "·hich is
of meeting at the Beaumont Hotel every Thursday for the past 34 years, without
Green Bay's . .. of the responsibility missing a meeting nor changing its meeting day since its inception.
8 Wrsco"'1SIN MAGAZC\'E