An “aeroplane” comes to town–big news in 1911

It was billed as ‘positively the most sensational event ever held in La Crosse,’ when an airplane came to town in 1911.    In October of 1911, a biplane landed in La Crosse to take part in an “aviation meet” at the interstate fairgrounds, apparently featuring just one ‘aeroplane.’  The plane would be piloted by Hugh Robinson, who was described as “the surest birdman in the business.”  Schools, businesses, and factories in La Crosse were scheduled to close down for the event.  This was only eight years after the Wright brothers made their first successful flight at Kitty Hawk.   

The next presidential election was more than a year away, but people were already announcing support for Democratic candidate Woodrow Wilson, the governor of New Jersey, to run against President William Howard Taft.  Wilson had just been elected governor after serving eight years as the president of Princeton University.   

A Washington businessman was complaining that manicure girls should take exams to show that they’re properly trained to polish a customer’s nails.  Mr. E.H. Martin said girls who treated the nails of men at Washington barber shops were not qualified, and were “butchering” men’s hands.   

Many famous Americans were born in 1911, including President Ronald Reagan, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Lucille Ball, Danny Kaye, Jean Harlow, Tennessee Williams, and Vincent Price.