A wrecking ball knocked down La Crosse’s first city hall, 23 years ago

In 1995, the first building used as a city hall in La Crosse was demolished in the 400 block of Main Street.  In the 1930’s and 40’s, the building was used as a radio studio by WKBH.  It was housing Bob’s Moen Photo in ’95, but it was crowded up against the State Bank building, and it was torn down for parking.

Congressman Steve Gunderson of Osseo was promoting an overhaul of the federal milk policy.  A key point of Gunderson’s plan was to end the practice of pricing milk based on how far away from Eau Claire that the milk was produced.  Instead, the price would depend on whether the milk would be used for drinking, or dairy products.

Before television had “Desperate Housewives” and “Real Housewives,” La Crosse had “Angry Housewives.”  That was the name of a musical performed in 1995 by the Pegasus Players, above the Brew-Note coffee shop on Jay Street.  In the show, “Angry Housewives” was the name of a punk-rock band started by a group of married women, played by Crystal Hoeth, Melinda Hadley-Bartlett, Vicki Elwood, and Sue Ramsett…23 years ago, yesterday in La Crosse.