WISCONSIN STORIES IS A PARTNERSHIP
OF THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN
AND WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
Tracy Will: TONIGHT, A SPECIAL DELIVERY OF WISCONSIN STORIES.
RURAL FREE DELIVERY
ENDS THE ISOLATION OF WISCONSIN FARM LIFE.
A COMMUNITY FIGHTS FOR ITS POST OFFICE AND ITS IDENTITY.
MAIL ORDER CATALOGS BRING A CORNUCOPIA
OF CONSUMER GOODS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE.
AND AN IOWA POSTMASTER PUTS LIMBURGER CHEESE
ON TRIAL--
ON WISCONSIN STORIES.
MAJOR FUNDING FOR WISCONSIN STORIES
IS PROVIDED BY THE MEAD WITTER FOUNDATION, INC.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WISCONSIN.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY
THE HALBERT AND ALICE KADISH FOUNDATION
PHILIP J. AND ELIZABETH B. HENDRICKSON
AND AN ADVISED FUND OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN WISCONSIN.
AT THE TURN OF THE LAST CENTURY
MAIL CARRIERS USED HORSES AND SLEIGHS, LIKE THIS ONE
TO DELIVER MAIL TO RURAL AREAS.
HI, I'M DEBBIE KMETZ.
AND I'M TRACY WILL.
FOR A LONG TIME
THE MAIL WAS ONE OF THE FEW CONNECTIONS
TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
THAT MADE THE SMALL-TOWN POST OFFICE
A VITAL COMMUNITY CENTER.
EVERYBODY STOPPED BY TO PICK UP THEIR MAIL.
LATER ON, WISCONSIN MAIL COULD ARRIVE BY BOAT
BY MOTORCYCLE, EVEN BY DOG SLED.
THE POST OFFICE AND THE WAY MAIL WAS DELIVERED
ARE WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF WISCONSIN HISTORY.
TONIGHT, WE'LL HEAR TALES OF THE MAIL
ON WISCONSIN STORIES.
Will: AT THE TURN OF THE 20th CENTURY
MOST PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN LIVED IN THE COUNTRYSIDE.
IN THIS SLOW-PACED AND OFTEN ISOLATED WORLD
FARMERS MIGHT SPEND MOST OF A MORNING
DRIVING THEIR WAGON TO TOWN TO BUY SUPPLIES
AND STOP AT THE POST OFFICE TO PICK UP THEIR MAIL.
AT THE SAME TIME, IN THE BIGGER CITIES
MAIL CARRIERS DELIVERED MAIL
DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE'S HOMES EVERY DAY.
AND FARMERS, WHO PAID THE SAME FOR STAMPS AS CITY PEOPLE
BEGAN TO LOBBY FOR THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE.
AFTER A LONG POLITICAL BATTLE
THE POSTAL SERVICE
ESTABLISHED SEVERAL EXPERIMENTAL RURAL ROUTES.
AND IN 1896, SELECTED SUN PRAIRIE, WISCONSIN
TO TRY OUT RURAL FREE DELIVERY, OR "RFD".
THE FIRST RURAL CARRIERS
WERE HIRED FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
AND SO, AS FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR
THEY OFTEN HAULED SUPPLIES FROM TOWN, DID ODD JOBS
AND SHARED THE NEWS HEARD ALONG THE ROUTE.
PLODDING ALONG DIRT ROADS
THEY CARRIED THEIR POST OFFICE WITH THEM
SELLING STAMPS AND POST CARDS
REGISTERING LETTERS AND MONEY ORDERS.
EAGERLY AWAITED, AND HIGHLY POPULAR
THEY OFTEN FOUND A CUP OF COFFEE
OR A PIECE OF CAKE IN THE MAILBOX.
ONCE THIS SERVICE BEGAN, THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK.
FARMERS DEMANDED, AND SOON RECEIVED
RFD ROUTES ACROSS MOST OF WISCONSIN.
IN 1954, EDWARD ALLEN
OF RADIO STATION W-D-O-R IN STURGEON BAY
INTERVIEWED WILLIAM "BUCK" ARLE
WHO BEGAN WORK AS AN RFD CARRIER IN 1904.
Edward Allen: BUCK HAS CONSENTED TO COME TO THE STUDIO
TO TELL US ABOUT THE EARLY DAYS OF THE RFD.
BILL, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE OLD DAYS.
Buck Arle: OKAY, ED.
BY 1901, THIS SERVICE REACHED DOOR COUNTY.
AND REGULAR RURAL ROUTES, OF AN AVERAGE LENGTH OF 24 MILES
WERE ESTABLISHED.
THAT MILEAGE WAS CONSIDERED A FULL DAY'S WORK
WITH A HORSE-DRAWN VEHICLE.
Allen: I BET THAT WOULD BE, TOO.
Arle: IT WOULD. YES, IT WAS.
Allen: 24 MILES, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD GOING.
Arle: NOW, THE SALARY OF THE RURAL CARRIERS
WAS $600-$720 PER ANNUM.
THESE SALARIES INCLUDED THE FURNISHING
OF ALL NECESSARY EQUIPMENT
CONSISTING OF HORSES, BUGGIES, CUTTERS
AND SOME COVERED WAGONS
BUILT ESPECIALLY FOR THIS RURAL DELIVERY SERVICE.
Allen: YOU MEAN, BILL, THAT THE POST OFFICE
SUPPLIED THE HORSES, WAGONS AND EVERYTHING ?
Arle: NO, THE CARRIER HAD TO SUPPLY THAT OUT OF HIS SALARY.
Allen: HE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH LEFT ?
Arle: AT THAT TIME, IT WAS CONSIDERED A PRETTY GOOD SALARY.
THE ROADS, AT THAT TIME, WERE ORDINARY DIRT ROADS.
WITH THESE DIRT ROADS IN SUMMER
AND SNOW-BOUND ROADS IN WINTER
RURAL CARRIERS HAD SOME TRYING EXPERIENCES
IN PERFORMING THEIR DUTIES, AS CAN WELL BE IMAGINED.
Allen: I BET THEY DID.
Arle: IN THE "LOOKING BACK" COLUMN
OF THE ADVOCATE OF THE "NEWS OF FIFTY YEARS AGO"
JUST RECENTLY, IT DESCRIBES THE COLD WEATHER
OF THAT JANUARY, 1904.
WHICH AVERAGED 21½ DEGREES BELOW ZERO
FOR A PERIOD OF THREE WEEKS.
Allen: BOY, DID THE MAIL GET THROUGH ?
Arle: IT GOT THROUGH, IT DID.
I CAN REMEMBER-- WELL REMEMBER THAT.
BUT IN THOSE DAYS, WE HAD REAL OLD-FASHIONED WINTERS
AND WERE ACCUSTOMED TO TAKING THINGS IN THEIR STRIDE.
AND AS FOR SNOW--
AFTER A SEVERE SNOW STORM AND BLIZZARD
IT TOOK DAYS TO GET SOME OF THE ROADS OPEN FOR TRAFFIC.
I REMEMBER, AFTER ONE OF THESE BIG SNOW BLIZZARDS
NO FARMERS WOULD COME TO TOWN FOR ABOUT A WEEK.
AND FINALLY, THE MAIL CARRIER GOT THROUGH.
THEY KNEW THE ROAD WAS OPEN
AND THEN COME TO TOWN TO DO THEIR SHOPPING.
Allen ( laughing ): THAT WAS PRETTY GOOD-- A PRETTY GOOD TEST, WASN'T IT ?
Arle: SOME ROADS DRIFTED SO FULL OF SNOW
THAT THEY WERE IMPASSABLE.
AND NEARLY EVERYONE WHO DROVE CARRIED WIRE CLIPPERS
SO THAT THEY COULD CUT THE FENCES
AND TAKE TO THE FIELDS, OR WOODS, IN SOME CASES
TO GET THROUGH THESE PLACES THAT REMAINED CLOSED ALL WINTER.
Allen: WHAT DID THE FARMERS THINK ABOUT THIS WIRE-CLIPPING ?
Arle: THEY NEVER KICKED--
THEY ALL DID IT, THEMSELVES.
( Allen laughs )
Arle: YOU SOMETIMES HEAR PEOPLE LONGING FOR THE "GOOD OLD DAYS"
BUT I'M SURE WHEN THEY REFER TO THOSE "GOOD OLD DAYS"
THEY DON'T MEAN GOING BACK
TO THE OLD ROADS WE HAD IN THOSE DAYS.
Allen ( laughing ): WELL, I GUESS NOT.
Will: WITH THE SUCCESS OF RFD
THE POSTAL SERVICE BEGAN CLOSING
MANY OF THE SMALL RURAL POST OFFICES
IN DOOR COUNTY AND THE REST OF WISCONSIN--
A PROCESS THAT HAS CONTINUED THROUGH THE YEARS.
Woman: HI.
HERE'S MORE BUSINESS.
WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE TROUBLE HERE
YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR KEY TODAY ?
NOPE.
ALL RIGHT.
LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET MY KEY FOR YOU
AND GET IT OPEN.
THAT'S ONE NICE THING.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO REMEMBER YOUR KEY ALL OF THE TIME.
Kmetz: IN SOME SMALL TOWNS
ONE OF THE COMMUNITY'S MOST IMPORTANT CULTURAL CENTERS
IS THE POST OFFICE.
June Carroll: I'VE BEEN AT THE POST OFFICE FOR A LITTLE OVER 13 YEARS.
I LIKE THE JOB. DO YOU ?
IT'S VERY NICE, YEAH.
Kmetz: IT'S A SOCIAL INSTITUTION
THAT HELPS KEEP THE TOWN IDENTITY ALIVE.
RURAL AMERICA HAS DEPENDED UPON THE POST OFFICE.
AND IN HANOVER, WISCONSIN, POPULATION ABOUT 250
IT STILL DOES.
THE POST OFFICE HAS BEEN PART OF THE COMMUNITY
SINCE BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR.
HANOVER IS A SMALL VILLAGE OUTSIDE OF JANESVILLE.
ONCE A FARMING COMMUNITY, IT IS NOW ALSO A COMMUTER TOWN.
BUT EVEN AS THE CHARACTER OF THE VILLAGE HAS CHANGED
ONE THING REMAINS
THE POST OFFICE WITH THE NAME "HANOVER."
WHEN RURAL FREE DELIVERY STARTED IN 1908
FARMERS COULD HAVE THEIR MAIL DELIVERED TO THEIR HOUSE.
BUT SOME REFUSED THE SERVICE.
PICKING UP THE MAIL AT THE POST OFFICE
GAVE THEM A REASON TO GO INTO TOWN.
AND HANOVER WAS BUSTLING.
BUT IN 1943
HANOVER LOST ITS POSTMASTER.
AND THEN, THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE
DECIDED TO CLOSE HANOVER'S OFFICE.
THE TOWN RESIDENTS RAISED A RUCKUS
AND ELDA EHRLINGER STEPPED IN.
SHE OWNED A GROCERY STORE
AND PETITIONED TO BECOME POSTMASTER.
DWAYNE VANKEUREN, FORMER TOWN CHAIRMAN
LIVED ACROSS THE STREET.
IF YOU SAW SOMEBODY YOU WANTED TO TALK TO
WELL, YOU HAD A GOOD EXCUSE
TO GO OVER THERE AND SIT ON THE BENCH
ON THE FRONT PORCH AND TALK TO THEM.
WHAT KIND OF STUFF DID YOU TALK ABOUT ?
OH, EVERYTHING-- THINGS IN TOWN
OR THINGS WE'VE BEEN DOING
OR WHETHER WE WANTED TO PLAY CARDS THAT NIGHT
OR WHETHER WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A DANCE UP AT THE TOWN HALL.
WERE THOSE GOOD DAYS ?
VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD.
Kmetz: IN THE 1950s, HOWEVER, HANOVER BEGAN TO CHANGE.
Elda Ehrlinger: EARLIER ON
I KNEW EVERYBODY.
AND YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY-- THEY WERE MORE FRIENDLY.
NOW, THERE'S VERY FEW PEOPLE I KNOW DOWN THERE.
Kmetz: AS IN OTHER PLACES, WITH THE POPULATION SHIFT
FROM THE RURAL, TO URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS
CONSOLIDATION BECAME A COMMON PRACTICE.
MANY SMALL TOWNS LOST THEIR SCHOOLS, CHURCHES
AND POST OFFICES.
CHANGE BECAME MORE DRAMATIC WHEN TRAIN SERVICE STOPPED
AND A NEW HIGHWAY BYPASSED THE TOWN.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST THREATS
TO A SMALL POST OFFICE LIKE HANOVER'S
IS PRODUCING REVENUE.
DURING THE 1980s
ABOUT 30 WISCONSIN COMMUNITIES LOST THEIR POST OFFICES
BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT PROFITABLE.
HANOVER WAS AGAIN PUT ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.
CITIZENS RALLIED ONCE MORE
BUT IT WAS A LONG FIGHT
STARTING WITH A PETITION SENT TO MADISON.
WHO ORGANIZED THE PETITION ?
( laughs ) GUESS.
ME. IT WAS YOU.
Kmetz: THROUGHOUT THE 1980s, RESIDENTS OF HANOVER
CONTINUED TO FIGHT ABSORPTION INTO THE JANESVILLE
OR ORFORDVILLE RURAL MAIL ROUTES.
AND THEY'VE HELD ONTO
ONE OF THE LAST INSTITUTIONS WITH THE NAME "HANOVER."
THERE AREN'T ANY OF US WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE
THE POST OFFICE CLOSED.
WE WANT TO KEEP IT; THAT'S OUR IDENTITY.
I THINK WE ALL GET USED TO THINGS, YOU KNOW.
AND I THINK THEY THINK IT'S HANDY
FOR THEM TO GET STAMPS AND MAIL THINGS.
Kmetz: WHY HAS HANOVER KEPT ITS POST OFFICE ?
BECAUSE WE FOUGHT SO HARD TO KEEP IT.
DID YOU ?
THAT'S THE ONLY REASON THAT I KNOW OF.
WE WROTE LETTERS
AND GOT ON EVERYBODY'S BACK THAT WE COULD THINK OF.
WE MADE OURSELVES OBNOXIOUS TO EVERYBODY.
SO, THEY FIGURED, "WE BETTER LET THEM KEEP IT."
HI, THERE. HOW ARE YOU ?
I WANT SOME PRETTY STAMPS.
Kmetz: IN 1986, THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE
DECIDED TO CONTINUE MAIL SERVICE
IN THE FORM OF A COMMUNITY POST OFFICE.
TODAY, HANOVER HAS NO OFFICIAL POSTMASTER
INSTEAD, A CONTRACT EMPLOYEE, JUNE CARROLL
OFFERS POSTAL SERVICE IN HER HOME.
IT'S GOING TO STORM TONIGHT, YOU KNOW...
Kmetz: HANOVER HAS RETAINED ITS ZIP CODE
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, ITS NAME.
Will: WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF RURAL FREE DELIVERY
FARMERS COULD RECEIVE SMALL PACKAGES, AS WELL AS MAIL.
IN 1913, THE POST OFFICE ADDED A NEW SERVICE--
PARCEL POST--
WHICH ALLOWED FARMERS
TO ORDER LARGER, HEAVIER ITEMS THROUGH THE MAIL.
IT WAS AN INSTANT SUCCESS.
NOW, FARM FAMILIES HAD ACCESS
TO THE SAME ARRAY OF GOODS THEIR CITY NEIGHBORS ENJOYED
ORDERED THROUGH A THICK CATALOG
THAT MANY CALLED "THE WISH BOOK."
OR THE "HOME-SITTER'S BIBLE."
Dave Driscoll: CATALOGS OFFERED A TREMENDOUS ARRAY
OF HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS,
FIREARMS, SPORTING GOODS
FARM EQUIPMENT...
YOU NAME IT--
YOU COULD BUY IT THROUGH THE CATALOG.
I'M AT THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S
MUSEUMS COLLECTION STORAGE WITH DAVE DRISCOLL.
AND DAVE'S THE CURATOR
OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY AT THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
HOW DID CATALOGS GET STARTED ?
THERE'S A CONNECTION, BASICALLY
TO THE 19th CENTURY FARM CRISIS.
IN THE POST-CIVIL WAR ERA
THERE WAS A DRASTIC DROP IN COMMODITY PRICES
WHICH CREATED A LOT OF ECONOMIC DISTRESS
ON AMERICAN FARMS.
Will: IN RESPONSE TO THAT CRISIS
FARMERS IN THE EARLY 1870s BANDED TOGETHER
TO FORM AN ORGANIZATION
CALLED THE NATIONAL GRANGE OF THE PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
Driscoll: ONE OF THE REFORMS THAT THE GRANGE WAS PRESSING
WAS KIND OF ELIMINATING THE MIDDLE MAN.
THEY COULD PUT CONSUMERS
DIRECTLY IN CONTACT WITH MANUFACTURERS
THEY COULD ACQUIRE GOODS AT CONSIDERABLY LESS EXPENSE.
Will: THE GRANGE MOVEMENT AND DIRECT BUYING
RESULTED IN THE FIRST MAIL ORDER CATALOG
SENT TO RURAL RESIDENTS.
SOON AFTER, THE MONTGOMERY WARD MAIL ORDER COMPANY
WAS FOUNDED TO TAP INTO THAT NEW MARKET.
Driscoll: YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR HORSE BLANKET IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE
YOU WANT A NICE COLOR-VERSION.
Will: BEFORE RURAL FREE DELIVERY
FARMERS HAD TO PICK UP THEIR CATALOGS AND PACKAGES
AT THE LOCAL POST OFFICE
WHICH WAS OFTEN LOCATED IN THE GENERAL STORE.
AND STORE OWNERS, WHO OFTEN SERVED AS POSTMASTERS
WERE NOT HAPPY WITH THEIR RURAL CUSTOMERS
SHOPPING BY MAIL.
Driscoll: THE MERCHANTS IN THE SMALL TOWNS
WERE VERY UPSET BY THESE OUTSIDE RETAILERS
WHO WERE UNDERCUTTING THEM
AND ESSENTIALLY, DESTROYING THEIR BUSINESS.
FURNITURE-- CHAIRS, TABLES, SUITES, CRIBS.
YOU HAVE TO ORDER THEIR SPECIAL TOMBSTONE CATALOG.
Will: CATALOG GOODS ALSO HOMOGENIZED AMERICAN TASTE
BY OFFERING THE SAME GOODS AND STYLES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND THIS WIDE SELECTION
SOON BROUGHT NEW SOCIAL ISSUES TO RURAL AMERICA.
Driscoll: YOU COULD SHOW UP TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY
WEARING A NEW STORE-BOUGHT DRESS
AS OPPOSED TO A HOME-MADE DRESS.
IT TOLD YOUR NEIGHBORS
THAT YOU HAD A DISPOSABLE INCOME.
AND RATHER THAN WEARING YOUR COSTUME
THAT MIGHT MARK YOU AS A POLISH IMMIGRANT
YOU'D WEAR A GOOD OLD AMERICAN SUIT.
Kmetz: THERE'S CZECH, POLISH...
Driscoll: HEBREW. HEBREW !
RUSSIAN. RUSSIAN.
Will: AS TIME WENT ON
MORE LARGE ITEMS COULD BE ORDERED BY MAIL
AND SHIPPED BY RAIL FROM CATALOG COMPANIES
LIKE MONTGOMERY WARD
AND THEIR MAIN COMPETITOR
SEARS AND ROEBUCK.
Kmetz: WHAT KIND OF REALLY BIG THINGS
COULD YOU GET FROM CATALOGS ?
Driscoll: SILOS.
YOU COULD GET BUGGIES.
YOU COULD GET AUTOMOBILES.
BUT THE BIGGEST THING WAS PROBABLY HOUSES.
YOU COULD GET A HOUSE ?
YOU COULD ORDER A SEARS HOUSE THROUGH THE MAIL.
Jim Draeger: THEY GAVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEEDED
RIGHT DOWN TO THE PAINT AND THE SHINGLES.
I'M WITH JIM DRAEGER
FROM HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
WHAT'S THE BEAUTY OF THESE HOUSES ?
THE BEAUTY OF A SEARS AND ROEBUCK HOUSE, TRACY
WAS YOU COULD HAVE ARCHITECTURE WITH A CAPITAL "A"
FOR A WORKING CLASS FAMILY, BUT AT A VERY LOW COST.
THEY WOULD SHIP THESE THINGS BY RAIL.
THEY WOULD GIVE YOU ALL THE MATERIALS
IN A COUPLE OF RAILROAD CARS.
AND IT WAS LIKE
ORDERING A GIANT LEGO SET.
IF YOU COULD POUND A NAIL, YOU COULD BUILD A SEARS HOUSE.
BECAUSE SEARS HAD TO SELL THESE THINGS
BASED ON APPEAL OF THE CATALOG IMAGE
THEY PUT A LOT OF ARCHITECTURE ON THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING.
CURB APPEAL. A LOT OF CURB APPEAL.
THEY WERE VERY INFLUENTIAL IN SETTING A NATIONAL TASTE
OR A NATIONAL STYLE
THAT REALLY HOMOGENIZED NATIONAL DESIGN.
Will: DURING THE EARLY 1900s
AND THROUGH THE GREAT DEPRESSION
HOME FINANCING THROUGH BANKS WAS RARE.
SO, SEARS OFFERED THEIR OWN HOME MORTGAGES
AT 2.5 PERCENT DOWN, ONE PERCENT A MONTH
TO HELP FINANCE THE LOT AND CONSTRUCTION.
Draeger: DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION
SEARS WAS HURT VERY BADLY, FINANCIALLY, BY THE FORECLOSURE
OF SO MANY OF THE FINANCING DEALS ON THESE HOUSES.
SEARS DECIDED THAT BY THE END OF THE DEPRESSION
TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE BUSINESS.
Will: BY THEN, THE AMERICAN SOCIAL LANDSCAPE WAS ALSO CHANGING.
BY 1910, MORE FAMILIES LIVED IN CITIES THAN ON FARMS
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
THE ADVENT OF AUTOMOBILES AND BETTER ROADS
ENDED THE ISOLATION OF FARM FAMILIES.
FARMERS WERE ABLE TO MORE EASILY
GET TO CITIES AND SHOP.
AND MAIL ORDER SALES GRADUALLY DECLINED.
BOTH WARDS AND SEARS BEGAN OPENING RETAIL STORES.
BUT, FOR MANY FAMILIES THEN, AS IT IS TODAY
IT WAS STILL MORE CONVENIENT TO STAY AT HOME
AND GET IT IN THE MAIL.
( Polka music playing )
WE'RE HERE IN MONROE
FOR GREEN COUNTY CHEESE DAYS.
SPEAKING OF MAIL ORDER CATALOGS...
MONROE IS HOME TO SWISS COLONY
ESTABLISHED IN 1926.
SWISS COLONY IS THE OLDEST MAIL ORDER CHEESE BUSINESS
IN THE UNITED STATES.
THAT'S RIGHT.
OF COURSE, MONROE IS THE CHEESE CAPITAL
WHICH MEANS YOU CAN GET ANY KIND OF CHEESE
HERE IN GREEN COUNTY, INCLUDING...
LIMBURGER ! LIMBURGER !
? COME GATHER 'ROUND PEOPLE ?
? AND TURN UP THE TUBE ?
? AND WE'LL TELL YOU A MARVELOUS TALE ?
? OF MEDICAL HUNCHES ?
? RESTORATIVE LUNCHES ?
? AND RURAL DELIVERIES OF MAIL ?
? ROMANTICALLY COMIC, HEARTBREAKINGLY TRAGIC ?
? IT'S REALLY NOT EITHER OF THESE ?
? BUT THOROUGHLY TRUE AND A PINNACLE, TOO ?
? IN THE HISTORY OF LIMBURGER CHEESE... ? ?
Kmetz: LIMBURGER IS A FOREIGN TYPE OF CHEESE
KNOWN FOR A STRONG AROMA.
THE CHALET CHEESE CO-OP IN MONROE
IS THE ONLY CHEESE FACTORY
IN THE UNITED STATES
THAT STILL MAKES LIMBURGER BY HAND
JUST AS IT WAS MADE IN THE 1930s
JUST AS IT WAS MADE 100 YEARS AGO.
LIMBURGER IS A FAST-AGING CHEESE
THAT IS SCHMEARED ON THE OUTSIDE
WITH A BACTERIA THAT CREATES A RIND.
THE CHEESE RIPENS
FROM THE OUTSIDE IN.
AND IT IS THE BACTERIA
THAT GIVES LIMBURGER ITS ODOR AND FLAVOR.
Man: PEOPLE EITHER LOVE LIMBURGER OR THEY HATE IT.
Will: LIMBURGER CHEESE IS STILL ENJOYED BY MANY
HERE AT BAUMGARTNER'S CHEESE STORE IN MONROE.
THE FAVORITE WAY TO EAT LIMBURGER
IS WITH RYE BREAD, ONION AND MUSTARD.
I COME UP HERE TO RIDE MY BIKE ON THE HILLS
CAUSE THERE AREN'T ANY HILLS WHERE I LIVE.
AND OF COURSE, THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD EXCUSE TO STOP IN HERE
AND HAVE A LIMBURGER CHEESE SANDWICH AND SOME BEER.
IT'S REALLY GOOD.
JUST LIKE THAT SIGN SAYS
YOU DON'T EAT IT WITH YOUR NOSE.
THERE'S A GREAT STORY ABOUT LIMBURGER CHEESE
AND THE POST OFFICE.
I KNOW YOU THAT YOU KNOW THE STORY VERY WELL, DEBBIE.
IT WAS 1935.
AND WISCONSIN WAS STILL SUFFERING
THE WOES OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
THINGS WERE SO BAD
MONROE HAD EVEN STOPPED CELEBRATING CHEESE DAYS.
A DOCTOR IN INDEPENDENCE, IOWA
PRESCRIBED LIMBURGER
FOR AN AILING PATIENT.
A PACKAGE OF LIMBURGER WAS MAILED TO IOWA
BUT IT CAME BACK BECAUSE IT REPORTEDLY MADE
A RURAL MAIL CARRIER SICK.
Will: THE INDEPENDENCE, IOWA, POSTMASTER, WARREN MILLER
CITED A RULE IN THE POSTAL REGULATIONS
THAT OFFENSIVE-SMELLING PACKAGES
DID NOT HAVE TO BE ACCEPTED FOR THE MAILS.
? NOW LITTLE MONROE HAD A POSTMASTER, TOO ?
? WHO'D STEP INTO THE FRAY NOW AND THEN ?
? J. BURKHARD FELT STRONGLY ?
? THE CHEESE HAD BEEN WRONGLY RETURNED ?
? AND HE MAILED IT AGAIN ?
? BUT FIRST HE TOOK PAINS TO RE-WRAP IT IN FOIL ?
? AND IN CARDBOARD TOO STURDY TO SQUEEZE ?
? AND PASSING APPRAISAL, BOTH POSTAL AND NASAL ?
? AWAY WENT THE LIMBURGER CHEESE... ? ?
Kmetz: THE NEXT MONTH, THE LIMBURGER CHEESE
WAS WRAPPED IN WAX PAPER AND TIN FOIL
AND SENT IN THE MAIL TO IOWA, AGAIN.
AND AGAIN, IT CAME BACK UNDELIVERABLE.
? BUT WHEN IT CAME HOME TO MONROE ONCE AGAIN ?
? IT TOOK POSTMASTER BURKHARD ABACK ?
? INSTEAD OF COMPLETELY ACCEPTING DEFEAT ?
? HE DEVELOPED A TWO-PRONGED ATTACK ?
? HE MUMBLED, I'LL SEND IT TO WASHINGTON ?
? THEN, IF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL AGREES ?
? WITH APPROVAL ATTACHED ?
? WE'LL RE-WRAP AND DISPATCH FOR THE THIRD TIME ?
? THE LIMBURGER CHEESE ?
? AND MEANWHILE, POST HASTE, HE COMPOSED AN EPISTLE ?
? TO POSTMASTER MILLER, THAT READ: ?
? "YOURS TRULY PROPOSES A CONTEST OF NOSES ?
? "TO BRING THIS WHOLE THING TO A HEAD ?
? "I'LL SUBLET A CENTRALLY-LOCATED HALL ?
? "AND I'LL PERSONALLY PAY ALL THE FEES ?
? "I'LL SPRING FOR THE BREW AND THE BAKERY, TOO ?
? AND I'LL POP FOR THE LIMBURGER CHEESE..." ? ?
Kmetz: THE CONTEST WAS SET
BURKHARD WAS AFRAID MILLER COULDN'T TAKE THE SMELL.
SO, HE BROUGHT ALONG HIS OLD ARMY GAS MASK
CLOTHES PINS, INCENSE AND SMELLING SALTS--
READY FOR FIRST-AID IN AN IOWA EMERGENCY.
Will: AS BURKHARD AND A GROUP FROM MONROE LEFT FOR DUBUQUE
THEY WERE URGED TO "WIN BY A NOSE."
? TWO-THIRTY P.M. ON THE NINTH DAY OF MARCH ?
? IN DUBUQUE, AT THE JULIEN HOTEL ?
? IF YOU COULDN'T SEE ?
? YOU COULD FIND PARLOR "B" ON THE MEZZANINE LEVEL ?
? BY SMELL ?
? WHERE CAMERAS WERE RAISED ?
? AND REPORTERS WERE POISED ?
? FOR A TEST OF THEIR BEST JOURNALESE ?
? EXPECTING A THRILLER AS BURKHARD SERVED MILLER ?
? A SANDWICH OF LIMBURGER CHEESE ?
? MOST EVERYONE PRESENT WAS HOLDING THEIR BREATH ?
? WATCHING MILLER PREPARE TO CONSUME ?
? INCLUDING THE GUESTS ?
? WHO'D BEEN HOLDING THEIR BREATHS ?
? EVER SINCE THEY'D COME INTO THE ROOM ?
? HE MANAGED A NIBBLE, AND THEN TOOK A BITE ?
? AND AS CRUMBS TUMBLED DOWN HIS CHEMISE ?
? THE WHOLE ROOM WENT WILD WHEN THE POSTMASTER SMILED ?
? AND REQUESTED MORE LIMBURGER CHEESE... ? ?
Kmetz: AFTER SEVERAL LIMBURGER SANDWICHES
WERE CONSUMED BY MILLER
THE ACTING REFEREE DECLARED BURKHARD THE WINNER
IN THE LIMBURGER SNIFFING DUEL.
Will: IOWA'S MILLER SURRENDERED.
HE SAID, "I WAS ALL WRONG.
"I LIKE THE STUFF.
"YOU CAN SEND ALL THE LIMBURGER YOU WANT
THROUGH MY POST OFFICE."
? WHEN WORD OF THIS GREAT VINDICATION ?
? ARRIVED IN MONROE ON THE FOLLOWING DAY ?
? AND THEN, THE DAY AFTER, TO CHEERING AND LAUGHTER ?
? THE POSTMASTER GENERAL'S OKAY ?
? THE VILLAGE WENT MAD AND DEMANDED A PLAN ?
? TO REVIVE ONE OF THOSE JAMBOREES ?
? SO POPULAR HERE ?
? FULL OF BRATWURST AND BEER ?
? AND A FLOAT FOR MISS LIMBURGER CHEESE... ? ?
THE PUBLICITY SURROUNDING THE LIMBURGER-SNIFFING DUEL
RESULTED IN MONROE RESIDENTS ORGANIZING
TO REVIVE AN OLD-TIME CUSTOM OF CHEESE DAYS
WHICH HADN'T BEEN HELD IN MONROE SINCE 1928.
AND MONROE POSTMASTER, JOHN BURKHARD
WAS NAMED CHAIR OF THE CELEBRATION.
AND INDEPENDENCE, IOWA, POSTMASTER, WARREN MILLER
WAS INVITED TO BE GUEST OF HONOR.
AND SO IT WAS THAT A POORLY-WRAPPED PACKAGE
OF LIMBURGER CHEESE
BROUGHT ON THE CHEESE-SNIFFING DUEL
WHICH, IN TURN, REVIVED THE CHEESE DAY FESTIVAL
THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.
WHEN IN ROME, DEBBIE.
I'LL EAT SOME LIMBURGER, IF YOU DO. WELL, OKAY.
I WISH I HAD MY FAVORITE BEVERAGE TO WASH IT DOWN.
HERE WE GO.
RYE BREAD, LIMBURGER, MUSTARD AND ONIONS.
THE REAL THING. BON APPETIT !
IT'S PRETTY GOOD. THAT'S GOOD !
? AND SO ENDS OUR TALE ?
? BUT THOSE SAGAS LIKE THIS ?
? ARE THE STUFF OF A NEWSPAPER'S DREAMS ?
? ASSUMING IT'S TRUE ?
? THE CHEESE FINALLY WENT THROUGH ?
? THERE IS MORE TO THE STORY IT SEEMS ?
? FOR IF THERE'S AN IRONIC TWIST ?
? AT THE END OF THIS TALE THAT BEGAN WITH DISEASE ?
? IT'S A POSTMAN MADE ILL AND A FARMER MADE WELL ?
? BY THE SAME PIECE OF LIMBURGER CHEESE ?
? A POSTMAN MADE ILL AND A FARMER MADE WELL ?
? BY THE SAME PIECE OF LIMBURGER CHEESE... ? ?
MAJOR FUNDING FOR WISCONSIN STORIES
IS PROVIDED BY THE MEAD WITTER FOUNDATION, INC.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WISCONSIN.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY
THE HALBERT AND ALICE KADISH FOUNDATION
PHILIP J. AND ELIZABETH B. HENDRICKSON
AND AN ADVISED FUND OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN WISCONSIN.