The History of Western Technical College

1946 Auditorium events included . . .
February 19-20 The Central high School concert band presented a Musical Variety Show. The concert band
presented a varied program including an interesting novelty rendition of “Down on the Farm”. The
stage band played, selected from the band and orchestra membership, played in the second portion of
the show. Together with the choir, it presented popular tunes such as
“A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody,” “The Way You Look Tonight,” and others.
May 6 After an absence of one season, the Vocational Civic Orchestra assisted the spring concert of the La
Crosse Vocational Civic Choir. There were 55 singers in this year’s choir. Nearly 50 of its former and
present members served in the armed forces during the war. It had been the policy of the choir to
sing all or parts of a great work at the spring concert. This year, the choir presented Gabriel Faure’s
moving “Requiem”. Harold Youngberg was the director.
May 10 The Young People’s Symphony Orchestra presented a concert under the direction of Leigh Elder. The
orchestra was composed of 80 young musicians from the junior and senior high schools in the city.
December 3 The 60 musicians in the La Crosse Symphony orchestra, directed by Leigh Elder, presented a concert.
Among the selections included in the program were Schubert’s “Rosamunde Overture” and Schubert’s
D Minor Symphony.
In 1947, the Vocational School Board Members were: J. G. Becker, president; R. H. Anderegg, vice president; Raymond
C. Bice, secretary; Frank Papenfuss and Dr. R. W. Bardwell, superintendent of schools.
A Cancer Detection Center -- In January 1947, a free Cancer Detection Center was opened with space furnished by the La
Crosse Vocational School. When opened, 26 persons took advantage of this service. Additional screening was given
to many more persons in subsequent months. The center opened after more than a year of planning by the Cancer
Committee of the La Crosse County Medical Society in cooperation with the American Cancer Society. Director Coleman
was appointed chair of the La Crosse County Cancer Drive.
In an article authored by Director John B. Coleman, he stated, “The faculty of the La Crosse Vocational and Adult Schools
is extremely proud that the school is looked upon as a one-stop service station where people can get information in
almost any type of educational service or advice in their problems.” In the post-war era, counseling and training of
veterans were among the major objectives at the La Crosse Vocational and Adult Schools.
The Vocational School was interested in providing aeronautics training. In February 1947, area teachers defied the
sub-zero temperatures to attend an aviation education program for Wisconsin Teachers, sponsored by the State
Department of Public Instruction and the Vocational School in cooperation with the Wisconsin State Aeronautics
Commission and the Civil Aeronautics Administration. The meeting was one of seven in the state for the purpose of
giving teachers a picture of aviation’s contribution to general education. The new La Crosse Airport was dedicated on
March 1, 1947. In January 10, 1945, the Vocational Board approved a proposal for submission to the La Crosse Common
Council requesting them to “consider placing this postwar aviation program under the supervision of the La Crosse
Vocational and Adult Schools,” instead of private firms when the French Island airport was completed and ready for
aviation traffic. The Vocational Board expressed the hope to Mayor J. J. Verchota and the La Crosse Common Council
that all educational activities there would be under the direction of the Vocational Board.
A special meeting of the Vocational Board was held April 10, 1947. Director Coleman informed the Board “that Mr. John
Emedy, Secretary of the local branch of the communist party, had made request for the use of a room in the Vocational
School building . . . that the local members of the communist party desired to use this room for a meeting at which a
state officer was to speak.” The Board voted to deny the use of a room to the communist party. In response to that
decision, Mr. John Emedy wrote the Board and requested a hearing. The Board ordered Director Coleman “to refer this
matter to the proper authorities for decision.”
In 1947, a new department specializing in the teaching of distributive marketing began. Clair A. Longrie of Green Bay, a
University of Wisconsin commerce major and a navy veteran, was employed to teach the course.
Director Coleman stated “this type of schooling is particularly needed in La Crosse since the city is the center of a large
marketing area . . . the marketing business has expanded vigorously during the past years, and there is a great demand
for training for the personnel who handle the exchange of commodities.”