The idea of renovating old Central High wouldn’t fly, 51 years ago

In the spring of 1968, the La Crosse School Board reluctantly approved a study of whether the former Central High on Cass Street could be remodeled for use as a junior high. The school leaders were reluctant, because they thought the building, dating back to the 1920’s, was too old-fashioned to meet ‘1970 education needs.’ The district never did find a new use for old Central, and it was torn down in the 70’s, to make way for what is now Weigent Park.

A Republican Senator from Texas defended the Vietnam War in a speech on the La Crosse State campus. Senator John Tower argued that if South Vietnam could be kept out of the hands of Communists, then that would teach a lesson to Communist countries not to launch wars to gain territory. Tower also predicted that the GOP would win Texas is ’68, with Democratic President Lyndon Johnson retiring. Texas still voted Democratic that fall.

On TV, comedian Dom De Luise got his own summer variety show. ABC was showing ‘The Avengers,’ but this had nothing to do with Iron Man or Captain America. This was the popular British show about super-spies John Steed and Mrs. Emma Peel. Avengers assemble, in 1968, yesterday in La Crosse.