Resources
—Events & Festivals—
The resources listed below are unique to this page, and fall under this general category. Browse the sub-categories in the pages listed above if you are looking for a resource that falls under a more specific topic.
Author:
La Crosse Public Library
Creator:
Herman L. Rick
Description:
A collections of photographs of the Edward Konetchy Enshrinement into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. Edward John Konetchy (1885-1947) from La Crosse, Wisconsin, was inducted posthumously into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1961 for his accomplishments in the sport of baseball. The ceremony took place as the opening event for the second Oktoberfest in La Crosse on October 3, 1962, with a dinner and plaque unveiling at the Mary E. Sawyer Auditorium. The plaque was sponsored by the G. Heileman Brewing Company of La Crosse. This was the first ceremony of the WAHF to be held outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Description:
Agnes Osborne discusses her family and memories of her childhood in La Crosse during the turn of the century. Topics include but are not limited to: education, outdoor recreation, social activities, dances, parties, WWI, Great Depression, winter time, and summer time.
Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Description:
Bud Miyamoto (b. 1945) spends a majority of his interview remembering his early life in La Crosse, specifically life on the North Side as a Japanese American. Topics include but are not limited to: North Side neighborhood, his (white) mother's background and employment at the Auto-Lite factory, father’s service in the 100th Infantry Battalion during WWII and journey from Hawaii to La Crosse, Camp McCoy, local businesses (the Sweet Shop, the Country Kitchen, and the Riviera Theatre), social life and entertainment (school dances, drag races, movies, county fair, circus, and picnics), recreation and sports (swimming at the North Side Beach, softball at Copeland Park, and fishing on Black River), student rivalries between Central High School and Logan High School, health remedies, religion (St. Luke’s Methodist Church), anti-Japanese racism in town, Black Americans in La Crosse, Moss family, working-class cultures on North Side, Auto-Lite factory, community grief from 1959 lay-offs at Auto-Lite, employment (Manke Hardware Store, M. Lokken & Son Grocery, Neumeister’s Butcher Shop, Guggenbuehl and Nekola, Nelson’s Clothing Store, and Berg’s Pharmacy, Milwaukee Sentinel, the Sweet Shop, andSandy’s fast food), President John F. Kennedy, 1965 Flood, Lower North Side train depot, telephones, medical industry, and local radio.
Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Description:
Swords and Schmidt discuss their experience as siblings growing up during the early 1900s in the Goosetown area of La Crosse, Wisconsin. They describe family relationships, the Goosetown neighborhood, sports and games, and entertainment options.
Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Description:
Henry Norcross (b. 1899) describes his family background and life on French Island. Topics include but are not limited to: German ancestry, festivals, Milwaukee Railroad, farming, French Island and La Crosse tensions, education, winter, drowning accidents, diseases and quarantine (mumps, measles, chicken pox), Frank Powell and Buffalo Bill Cody, circus, summer fairs, Mary Hauck (doctor), early electric cars, Dr. McLoone and Bessie Moore murders, home remedies, Rubber Mills, railroad engineer, anti-German propaganda during WWI, Prohibition, bootleggers, tobacco usage, Great Depression, unemployment, being member of Ku Klux Klan (KKK) (audio cuts out here in the middle of his story), Lodge 754, union strikes and involvement, anti-Black racism and his perceptions of white working-class discrimination.
Content warning: this interview contains racist ideas and language.
Tape 2
Tape 3
Tape 4
Tape 2
Tape 3
Tape 4
Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Description:
Sylvan Arthur Schonsberg discusses his family background and life in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Topics include but are not limited to: 1965 Flood, hardware stores, Burlington Train Depot, WWII, entertainment (Avalon Ballroom, Riviera Theatre, Oktoberfest, Farm Fest fair, parades, Torchlight Parade), flea market, rivalry between Logan and Central High Schools, household appliances, stores in downtown La Crosse.
Creator:
WLCX (Radio station : La Crosse, Wis.)
Description:
Edward John Konetchy (1885-1947) was posthumously inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame as the 37th inductee in 1961. The enshrinement ceremony took place in La Crosse, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, October 3, 1962, as part of the Oktoberfest USA festivities in the Mary E. Sawyer Auditorium.
Konetchy, called "The Candy Kid," "La Crosse Lulu," Koney" and "Big Ed," was born in La Crosse in 1885. From 1905-1907, he played baseball for the La Crosse Class D team in the Wisconsin State League. He was scouted by the St. Louis Cardinals major league baseball team and joined them during that season as a first baseman. Konetchy played in the major leagues from 1907-1921, wearing the uniforms of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Federal team, Boston Braves, Brooklyn Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies. He then was sent to the minor leagues, winding up his professional playing career in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1927.
After his playing days were over, Konetchy managed several teams, including the 1940 La Crosse Blackhawks team that won the Wisconsin State League pennant. Konetchy died in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1947.
Contents: :00 Robert "Bob" Abbott continues reading the WAHF Call of the Roll from plaque #15 through plaque #36 -- 10:02 37th entry -- 10:26 Ray Ping, Sr., toastmaster of the banquet, sets up the presentation of Edward John Konetchy plaque sponsored by the G. Heileman Brewing Co. and introduces Roy E. Kumm, president of the G. Heileman Brewing Company -- 11:57 Roy E. Kumm presentation of the plaque and his remarks -- 16:36 Ken Blanchard requests the certificate of induction -- 18:11 Ken Blanchard reads the certificate for Konetchy as a 1961 selection; unveiling of plaque by George McBride and Merv Henley -- 19:22 Ray Ping, Sr., introduction of George Ruediger, former municipal judge and president of the La Crosse Blackhawks during Konetchy’s time, accepting the plaque on behalf of the Konetchy family -- 20:03 George Ruediger response on behalf of the Konetchy family -- 22:35 Ray Ping, Sr., replica of plaque for the G. Heileman Brewing Company; introduces Lou Boudreau, former major league player and manager -- 24:29 Lou Boudreau presents a replica of the plaque to the G. Heileman Brewing Company -- 28:22 Joseph J. Krueger, chairman of the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, gives the final address and comments -- 41:34 Ray Ping, Sr., introduces Rev. Arthur M. Feroe, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church to give the benediction -- 42:34 Rev. Arthur M. Feroe gives the benediction -- 42:50-end Jim Conway, announcer of the recording and special events director for WLCX radio, wraps up
Duration: 44:35
Forms part of the Mss 122 William "Boober" Parizek Papers held by the La Crosse Public Library Archives
Joe Rohrer of WLCX radio was the sound recording engineer of this program and Jim Conway the announcer. The recording was created for Mrs. Aubrey (Seawel) Konetchy, widow of Edward John Konetchy, who was unable to attend the presentation. It may have also been broadcast over the WLCX radio airwaves. The recording was migrated from reel-to-reel tape to digital format by Scene Savers in 2021.
Konetchy, called "The Candy Kid," "La Crosse Lulu," Koney" and "Big Ed," was born in La Crosse in 1885. From 1905-1907, he played baseball for the La Crosse Class D team in the Wisconsin State League. He was scouted by the St. Louis Cardinals major league baseball team and joined them during that season as a first baseman. Konetchy played in the major leagues from 1907-1921, wearing the uniforms of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Federal team, Boston Braves, Brooklyn Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies. He then was sent to the minor leagues, winding up his professional playing career in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1927.
After his playing days were over, Konetchy managed several teams, including the 1940 La Crosse Blackhawks team that won the Wisconsin State League pennant. Konetchy died in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1947.
Contents: :00 Robert "Bob" Abbott continues reading the WAHF Call of the Roll from plaque #15 through plaque #36 -- 10:02 37th entry -- 10:26 Ray Ping, Sr., toastmaster of the banquet, sets up the presentation of Edward John Konetchy plaque sponsored by the G. Heileman Brewing Co. and introduces Roy E. Kumm, president of the G. Heileman Brewing Company -- 11:57 Roy E. Kumm presentation of the plaque and his remarks -- 16:36 Ken Blanchard requests the certificate of induction -- 18:11 Ken Blanchard reads the certificate for Konetchy as a 1961 selection; unveiling of plaque by George McBride and Merv Henley -- 19:22 Ray Ping, Sr., introduction of George Ruediger, former municipal judge and president of the La Crosse Blackhawks during Konetchy’s time, accepting the plaque on behalf of the Konetchy family -- 20:03 George Ruediger response on behalf of the Konetchy family -- 22:35 Ray Ping, Sr., replica of plaque for the G. Heileman Brewing Company; introduces Lou Boudreau, former major league player and manager -- 24:29 Lou Boudreau presents a replica of the plaque to the G. Heileman Brewing Company -- 28:22 Joseph J. Krueger, chairman of the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, gives the final address and comments -- 41:34 Ray Ping, Sr., introduces Rev. Arthur M. Feroe, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church to give the benediction -- 42:34 Rev. Arthur M. Feroe gives the benediction -- 42:50-end Jim Conway, announcer of the recording and special events director for WLCX radio, wraps up
Duration: 44:35
Forms part of the Mss 122 William "Boober" Parizek Papers held by the La Crosse Public Library Archives
Joe Rohrer of WLCX radio was the sound recording engineer of this program and Jim Conway the announcer. The recording was created for Mrs. Aubrey (Seawel) Konetchy, widow of Edward John Konetchy, who was unable to attend the presentation. It may have also been broadcast over the WLCX radio airwaves. The recording was migrated from reel-to-reel tape to digital format by Scene Savers in 2021.