The History of Western Technical College

In the homemaking area many persons created beautiful items for their homes in the line of tailored slipcovers and
accessories along with furniture that was refinished. Food preparation, nutrition, and supper clubs for preparing
well-balanced meals were popular. There was no end for producing charming articles to use around the home.
The agriculture department took steps toward establishing it as a permanent part of the school instead of working as a
temporary agency in training on-the-farm veterans under the G.I. Bill of Rights, and an agricultural advisory committee
was appointed. In 1948, there were 50 men enrolled in this program.
In March 1948, Marshall G. Batho of West Bend, Wisconsin, was appointed to succeed superintendent of
La Crosse Public Schools, Dr. R. W. Bardwell. In this position, Batho automatically served on the Vocational School
Board.
Board President Joseph G. Becker was honored at a joint education and vocational board banquet on Monday, January
26, 1948. Becker who retired from the railroad was no longer eligible to serve in the employer category on the
Vocational Board. Becker served on the Vocational Board from 1925 to 1948, and was succeeded on the Board by
George Hall, AFL organizer. Also retiring from the Board was Dr. R. W. Bardwell, superintendent of schools, an
ex-officio member.
The 1948 Board members were R. H. Anderegg, president; Frank Papenfuss, vice president; Superintendent of Schools
Marshall Batho, secretary; Raymond C. Bice, and George W. Hall.
March 10-11, 1948 – the Vocational Board revived the former custom of holding an Open House for the citizens of La
Crosse and neighboring communities. “The pressures of war-time schedules was the only reason for discontinuing this
pleasant practice,” said Director Coleman. A large display of finished products, and visits to classrooms and shops were
on the agenda.
“Rehabilitation” -- A field that became more prominent in society, particularly after the war, was that of rehabilitation,
not only of veterans who received service disabilities but also of civilians who had a physical handicap of one nature or
another. A typical example of this was a 19-year-old youth from Lancaster, Wisconsin, who, though unable to use the
fingers of his left hand, learned the typewriting system for one hand and mastered the touch system without looking at
the keys. The method, which uses a blank keyboard and special metal “caps” was devised by Marie H. Peterson, teacher
in the College of Commerce school, and enabled her disabled pupils to type one-handed.
A veteran teaches a veteran. This was the case in 1948 for two men from Westby. The teacher, Wesley Ballsrud,
instructed Orville Melby, a disabled veteran, who was wounded in the Philippines, in the intricacies of accounting.
On November 17-18, 1948, about 50 Rural Electrification Association (REA) office managers and bookkeepers attended a
training conference for the purpose of improving office efficiency and management. Speakers and their subjects were
Marie H. Peterson, College of Commerce “Everlasting Your Telephone Technique;” Norman Mitby, assistant director of
the Vocational School (and later director of the Madison Vocational School) the “Importance and Technique of Job
Analysis;” and other topics that were directly associated with the REA.
It’s Christmas time again, and every year around Christmas time, the North Pole moves down to the Vocational School
and several rooms were transformed into a toyshop. It’s the annual Jaycees Christmas toy collection and Jaycette
Christmas doll projects for needy children.
1948 Auditorium events included . . .
February 1 The La Crosse Vocational Civic Band presented its popular “Pops” concert of familiar music, directed by
Frank Italiano. The band, 75 strong, gave the first public concert to commemorate the Wisconsin
Centennial in La Crosse. Bandleaders and players from eight neighboring communities participated.
Two guest conductors appeared with the band: Whitney Nichols, a band organizer of many
neighboring and local bands, and Edgar G. Doudna, of the state board of teachers college regents and
an early Wisconsin band director at Richland Center. Doudna conducted “Ruby Red,” a march that
he had first taught his Richland Center band 40 years ago, and Nichols conducted a march, “Greetings
to Bangor” by R. B. Hall and dedicated it to the neighboring village of Bangor.