The History of Western Technical College

May 10 The La Crosse Vocational Civic Choir, under the direction of Harold Youngberg, presented its annual
concert.
May 12 National Conference of Christians and Jews brought three famous U.S. religious leaders to
La Crosse for an evening round table discussion on “America’s World Task”.
May 15 Rt. Rev. Msgr. Fulton J. Sheen, considered one of the greatest orators in modern history, gave a lecture
on “The Burden on the Western World”. This lecture was presented under the auspices of the La
Crosse Knights of Columbus.
May 19 A “Salute to La Crosse” band recital was presented by the Sixth Service Command Training Center band
from Camp McCoy, on behalf of the entire post, as appreciation for the services to the solders at
McCoy given by La Crosse individuals, firms and organizations. The crowd was the largest on record –
an estimated 1,600 persons attended. “Probably where you are, it doesn’t look as though war has a
brighter side. But it had one last week for the home folks when the Camp McCoy Post Band
presented a musical tribute the La Crosse’s hospitality in a two-hour concert.”
October 15 The Western Wisconsin Education Association held its meeting in La Crosse.
November 17 The Women’s Army Corps (WAC) stationed at Camp McCoy presented a show of music, dancing, and
comedy “drama.”
The morale value of entertainment to the men in service cannot be questioned. In 1943, the Vocational Civic Orchestra
under the direction of Leigh Eldor and the Vocational Civic Choir directed by Harold Youngberg went to Camp McCoy and
gave a couple of entertainments that brought wild cheers and many compliments from the men in khaki.
The war wasn’t over, but planning for a post-war era was begun in 1944 . . . At the annual meeting in February 1944 of
the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce, guest speaker of the evening Frank O. Holt, director of public relations at the
University of Wisconsin, spoke on “Postwar Planning and Business Statesmanship”. Director Coleman presented
certificates of honor signed by President Roosevelt and General Hershey to nonpaid members of the county price and
rationing board. The Chamber members continued their discussion in
March 1944 regarding the rehabilitation of returning soldiers both now and immediately after the war, as well
as general community plans.
The Budget for 1944 submitted to the La Crosse Common Council requested $58,290 for that year. The budget for 1944
was $10,850 less than that requested for 1943. The reason given by the Vocational Board for reducing the budget at a
time when costs were rising included:
� “Our enrollment is smaller than usual. Especially is this true in our day school. This made it possible for us to
release a number of teachers. The teachers, by the way, are all working in defense plants or else are in the service of
our country.
� “For more than two years, we have been carrying on an extensive War Production Training program. During that
time, some of the overhead for the entire school has been paid by the U. S. Government . . . utilities, janitorial, and
others
� “. . . We have worked out a system of management which places our school on an efficient business basis.”
In 1944, the Vocational Board hired a Homebound instructor to teach a variety of crafts to persons who were unable to
leave their homes. The Homebound program began on March 20, and was part of the State Rehabilitation program.
Delilah Nelson was employed at a salary of $175 per month for 12 months (1944-45) and that $175 per month salary also
covered her traveling expenses. Taking training under an unusually qualified teacher, 12 adults unable to leave their
homes, developed an industry that enabled them to become partially self-supporting. Articles made by these people
were placed on sale at the Tiny Tot and Young Folks Toggery shop (then at 309 Main Street), and at Northern States
Power Company (then at 122 Fifth Avenue South).
On March 28, 1944, U.S. Republican presidential candidate Wendell L. Willkie made two appearances in
La Crosse, one being a public meeting in the Vocational School Auditorium. Willkie tried unsuccessfully to unseat
President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940. He was renominated in 1944, and after his defeat in the Wisconsin primary, he
withdrew from the race.
In March 1944, the doors of the Vocational School were open to Camp McCoy soldiers wanting to study a trade in their
leisure time. A variety of specialized vocational training was available to Camp McCoy personnel at the La Crosse
Vocational School. Two types of courses were available: The first was trade preparatory for learning