LA CROSSE HISTORY

There's a great photo of Teddy Roosevelt in the LA CROSSE TRIBUNE this morning that was taken in 1904.  He was in La Crosse, for a couple of hours, while on a cross country trip.  Note State Bank and Doerflingers in the background.

SOMETHING NEW DOWNTOWN

Walking through town, this morning, I discovered, yet, another new buisness.  The sequel resale shop has some really interesting merchandise, from what I could see through the windows.  Then I got home and saw an article about it in the La Crosse Tribune (CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE).

I also noticed that the building right across from the Hollywood Theater (which has been for sale forever) has a big sign, in the window, that says OFFER ACCEPTED.  No clue about what's going in there but it will be interesting to watch for any activity around there.

ANOTHER SURE SIGN OF SPRING

The La Crosse HOME AND BUILDERS SHOW opens tonight at the La Crosse Center.

Hey! Look at this! The BUBBLERS won't be bubbling anymore.

The city has found a fixture that will fit the historic street corner bubblers in La Crosse.  If you want a sip of water, on a hot summer day, you'll have to "push the button" to make the water run.  It won't be as unique as the old "bubbling" fixtures but it will save the city, literally, millions of gallons of water every summer.  Read the full story, here, in the La Crosse Tribune.

A SHOCKING STORY IN THE LA CROSSE TRIBUNE THIS MORNING

8 fatalities in 8 months from drug overdose in La Crosse.
Not a big surprise for Chicago or Minneapolis but La Crosse??  CLICK HERE TO READ THE STORY IN THE LA CROSSE TRIBUNE

There's a great article in the La Crosse Tribune (click here) about the history of 5th Avenue in La Crosse.  Lot's if interesting things I wasn't aware of.

It underlines, again, a lesson I learned from a very successful businessman in Sioux Falls.  "Bad location" is an excuse, not a reason.  If you have what they want, they'll come.  If you don't, you won't survive no matter where you put your business.  Ask anyone from the very long list of stores that have failed at the mall.

GOOD WEATHER FOR FEBRUARY

Highs today should be in the upper 20's with a sunny sky.  Tomorrow there's a good chance for a touch of snow.  Half an inch or less.  That shouldn't slow me down. 

I hope Donnie and Linda covered the plants.  It was 28 degrees in the Springs at 3 A.M.

Click for weather forecast

ROTARY CHRISTMAS LIGHTS A BIG SUCCESS

Money donations were up 20% and more than 225,000 non-perishable food items were collected.

DOWN MEMORY LANE

Did you know that by 1856 200 steamboats a month stopped at La Crosse. In 1858 the first passenger train arrived on the Milwaukee Road.

In 1862 beef was 7 cents a pound, eggs were 12 cents a dozen and you could buy a barrel of apples for $1.00.

In 1870 the La Crosse Police Department consisted of the chief and his assistant, 3 detectives and 6 patrol men.

In 1882 Mark Twain paid a visit to La Crosse.  He was a passenger on a steam boat that made a stop in here before continuing on to Minneapolis.

In 1940 I was born in  La Crosse. That's when all the fun really started.

HOLIDAYS

HOLIDAY FAIR is at the La Crosse Center through Sunday.  I enjoyed working at the hotel during Holiday Fair.  So many nice folks come every year to display their holiday items for sale.  You'll see a lot of great Christmas items if you go.

NEW THEATER

They sure didn't waste any time making the new downtown theater a reality.  Groundbreaking ceremonies were held yesterday.  GET THE FULL STORY HERE IN THE LA CROSSE TRIBUNE.

ANOTHER DOWNTOWN BUILDING PROJECT BEGINS NEXT WEEK

Construction on the new La Crosse Performing Arts Center will begin next week.  The beautiful new building, along the river and across from Piggy's, will be used by the La Crosse Community Theater and Viterbo University.  Read more in the La Crosse Tribune.

EASY ACCESS TO GRANDAD BLUFF AGAIN!

It's been closed for almost a year but Bliss Road will open again at 4 PM Friday afternoon with a ribbon cutting.  The repair, on the road, is finally finished.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN LA CROSSE THIS WEEK? CLICK HERE TO GET THE LATEST INFORMATION

The last time the Bassmaster Fishing Tournament was held in La Crosse was in 1983.  The four day tournament will return here, next summer, bringing in 100 fishing contestants, thousands of spectators and national television coverage and, of course, millions of dollars of revenue for the city.

I'm happy to see that Reinhart Food Service is moving their corporate headquarters into the Harborview Plaza building, downtown, next to the Radisson.  Every day there seems to be more and more happening downtown.  I love it!

ROCK AND ROLL LEGEND, CHUCK BERRY, TURNS 85 TODAY

I'll be riding in style before long!  La Crosse has received a $1.32 million grant to buy 3 new diesel-electric buses at $550,000 a pop.  Lot's of money but they're cleaner, quieter and there are BIG savings on fuel.  It will be about 18 months before we get them so I'm hoping I'll still be around and riding when they get here.

The "Travel Wisconsin" website shows the fall leaves at their peak of color around Viroqua while, here in La Crosse, we're past our peak. The show's about over.

I just read, what I think, is an amazing statistic for La Crosse.  According to a story in the La Crosse Tribune, 50% of the residential properties in the city are rentals. Seems like a lot to me.

I had no idea there was an art gallery at GRAND RIVER STATION, the new downtown bus terminal. Here's a website for the current show GRAND RIVER STATION GALLERY. You learn something new every day! I'll have to check it out.