K-Mart was not OK, 53 years ago

In 1964, plans to build a K-Mart at Losey Boulevard and State Road were shut down by the La Crosse city council.  They halted the project to do some study and get public opinion.  Property owners in the area wanted zoning protection and buffer zones before they would let the big store into the neighborhood.  The K-Mart opened in 1965, but is now going out of business.

The Warren Commission report on the assassination of President Kennedy was released in ’64.  The La Crosse Tribune offered readers a hard-cover copy of the commission’s findings for only $1.50.

In the 1964 presidential campaign, Republican nominee Barry Goldwater traveled to Madison, speaking to 10,000 people outside the state capitol.  One Madison newspaper chose not to endorse any candidate for president, saying Goldwater was “not equipped mentally (or) temperamentally” for the job, while President Lyndon Johnson had a dangerous “Big Brother” attitude.

Sixty-four was a big year for the Beatles, but the Fab Four were not in the Top 10 in early July.  The Beach Boys had a #1 on the 4th of July with “I Get Around,” and Johnny Rivers was right behind with “Memphis.”  Fifty-three years ago, yesterday in La Crosse.