Yesterday in La Crosse
Senator Joe McCarthy died, 60 years ago this week
In May of 1957, Senator McCarthy passed away at age 48. The cause of death was reported as a liver inflammation. McCarthy was described in a newspaper story as ‘probably the most controversial’ American politician of the decade, because of his campaign to seek out Communists in America. Several potential successors were mentioned in the media, including Walter Kohler, Warren Knowles, Gaylord Nelson, and William Proxmire. It was Democrat Proxmire who won the special election, and kept the seat for 31 years. McCarthy was the last Republican to hold that Senate seat.
It was the first Trane to Clarksville…the first Trane Company plant to be built in Clarksville, Tennessee. Trane chose Clarksville as a site for production of central air conditioning units for homes. The company still has a plant in that town today.
The first week of May was quite busy in La Crosse. The annual Wisconsin Chess tournament took place at the Hotel Stoddard. La Crosse State hosted an annual high school music festival, which ended with a parade through downtown. And some of the Greek organizations on campus had parties at Maple Grove, the New Villa, and the Linker Hotel. Sixty years ago, 1957, yesterday in La Crosse.