Getting ready to build the new student union, 60 years ago

In October of 1957, La Crosse State president Rexford Mitchell announced that construction of a new union building would start in the winter or spring.  The original union was completed in 1959, and eventually was named Cartwright Center.  A much larger student union replaced Cartwright just in the last year.  Money for the project came from a federal loan, setting aside $5 million to fund nine student unions around Wisconsin.
 
The attorney general in Washington was quitting.  Herbert Brownell resigned less than a year into President Eisenhower’s second term, planning to return to private law practice.  Brownell was succeeded by deputy AG William Rogers, who finished the term.  Rogers returned to the president’s cabinet a few years later, as secretary of state under Richard Nixon.
 
The Rivoli Theater was promoting a Halloween party for kids…and crazy contests for prizes would be a big part of the fun.  The competitions would include balloon blowing, bubble gum blowing, pie eating, and cracker eating.
 
And a newspaper column called “Explore Your Mind” asked: why are middle-aged women confused?  The column quoted a study of 1500 women over the age of 40, which found that their husbands “are engrossed in business,” and their children “no longer need them”…so “what are they supposed to do?”  Looking for a woman’s place…60 years ago, 1957, yesterday in La Crosse.