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I've lived in Madison my whole life so I'm very aware of just how much Madison has changed over the years. Now, I won't deny that some of the changes have been necessary and positive, but I can't help but feel a little nostalgic about the good old days in Mad City. So, for all the true Madisonians and long-time residents, I thought I'd start a thread to reminisce about "the way things used to be". I know, I know - it makes me sound really old, but it's hard not to think about these things when I see all the new developments and changes around town.
So...do you remember when...
• Warner Park was a dump (landfill)?
• city buses were named after streets?
• MATC downtown was Madison Central High?
• when cars could drive on State Street?
• when you could swim in Madison lakes w/o fear of algae and other pollutants?
• when we had 2 drive-ins: the Badger Outdoor and Big Sky?
• the A&W drive-in on E. Wash? They'd set your food tray on your car window!
What else has changed in Madison over the years? Do you remember the good old days? Come on, Madisonians - reminisce with me!
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| Although I was not born in Madison, I first arrived in 1966 as a UW freshman. I remember everything you mentioned. There was also an A&W on South Park St. with car service. The servers were on roller skates. After they closed, it became Andy's. It's now the Famous Dave's rib joint. Back in the day University Ave. and Johnson were both two way streets. In '66 the upper deck of Camp Randall was newly opened. Drinking age was 18 for beer bars. I didn't have a car back then, so I mainly knew what was around campus.
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Warner park as still a dump, and you can still drive on State if you have handicap tags.
Remember the ski jump in Hoyt park? And the ski jump behind Shorewood elementary?
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lardheppus (9/5/2009)
Warner park as still a dump, and you can still drive on State if you have handicap tags.
Remember the ski jump in Hoyt park? And the ski jump behind Shorewood elementary?
Oooh, that's harsh! I'll admit that Warner Park isn't ALL THAT, but it's far from a dump. Back in the day (as late as the early 70's), there were huge piles of...junk. I can remember climbing on them and digging through them for "treasures". I don't recall finding much more than old medicine bottles, but back then we thought they were pretty neat.
I was a northsider growing up so I don't remember much about the west side except for the Big Sky, Hilldale (plaza?), and the Wheel-Thing (is that how it was spelled?).
Literate (9/5/2009)
Although I was not born in Madison, I first arrived in 1966 as a UW freshman.
I remember everything you mentioned. There was also an A&W on South Park St. with car service. The servers were on roller skates. After they closed, it became Andy's. It's now the Famous Dave's rib joint.
Back in the day University Ave. and Johnson were both two way streets. In '66 the upper deck of Camp Randall was newly opened. Drinking age was 18 for beer bars.
I didn't have a car back then, so I mainly knew what was around campus.
I remember the A&W on S. Park and I know ate there after it changed, but I couldn't remember the name of it (thanks!). But, I don't ever remember either University or Johnson being 2-way - but then again, I was only 3 in 1966.  I do, however, remember when Broadway was the Beltline and when they built what we now call the Beltline it was kind of publicized as a superhighway of sorts. Or so, that's how my young mind perceived it.
I remember there was a Woolworth's on the square, just down the road from Rennebohm's - aka "30 on the Square", and there was a Manchester's somewhere downtown, too. There was a theater on the next block, but I can't remember what it was called.
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Nomi (9/5/2009)
lardheppus (9/5/2009)
Warner park as still a dump, and you can still drive on State if you have handicap tags.
Remember the ski jump in Hoyt park? And the ski jump behind Shorewood elementary?
Oooh, that's harsh! I'll admit that Warner Park isn't ALL THAT, but it's far from a dump. Back in the day (as late as the early 70's), there were huge piles of...junk. I can remember climbing on them and digging through them for "treasures". I don't recall finding much more than old medicine bottles, but back then we thought they were pretty neat.
I was a northsider growing up so I don't remember much about the west side except for the Big Sky, Hilldale (plaza?), and the Wheel-Thing (is that how it was spelled?).
Literate (9/5/2009)
Although I was not born in Madison, I first arrived in 1966 as a UW freshman.
I remember everything you mentioned. There was also an A&W on South Park St. with car service. The servers were on roller skates. After they closed, it became Andy's. It's now the Famous Dave's rib joint.
Back in the day University Ave. and Johnson were both two way streets. In '66 the upper deck of Camp Randall was newly opened. Drinking age was 18 for beer bars.
I didn't have a car back then, so I mainly knew what was around campus.
I remember the A&W on S. Park and I know ate there after it changed, but I couldn't remember the name of it (thanks!). But, I don't ever remember either University or Johnson being 2-way - but then again, I was only 3 in 1966. I do, however, remember when Broadway was the Beltline and when they built what we now call the Beltline it was kind of publicized as a superhighway of sorts. Or so, that's how my young mind perceived it.
I remember there was a Woolworth's on the square, just down the road from Rennebohm's - aka "30 on the Square", and there was a Manchester's somewhere downtown, too. There was a theater on the next block, but I can't remember what it was called.
The Strand
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lardheppus (9/5/2009)
[quote]The Strand
Thank you! Man, that was driving me crazy! 
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I remember.....
- A&W on Monona Drive
- Burr Oaks Bowling
- The intersection of Stoughton Rd. and Milwaukee St. having stop signs
- The Voyager I (and II)
- Halloween on State without rioting and/or strong police presence
- Museum on the upper floor of the Capitol
- Middleton and Waunakee were 'hick' towns (now they are apparently suburbs?)
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Madison.com - Where 'Ok Go' videos aren't the only videos one can't embed.
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Remember the ski jump in Hoyt park?
I don't (too young) but my big brother sure does.
He broke his arm riding his bike down the hill by the ski jump.
He also says that there used to be a toboggan run at Hoyt park.
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A couple of things that spring to mind that I remember fondly...
The Manchesters on the square actually had an elevator lady with white gloves who would take you to your floor and let you know the different departments.
I frequented a little after-hours coffee house somewhere on State St. in a basement called the Uptown Cafe.
I think my fondest memory was the Factory where I was fortunate to sit on the floor just a few feet away from Jimi Hendrix during a performance. I actually managed to not kill off all my brain cells that night.
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What makes you think Middleton and Waunakee aren't still hick?
That was the GAR museum before it moved across the street to the old 30 on the square building. Love the periscope. 
Yes, there was a toboggan run at Hoyt. Liability laws probably killed that.
I don't remember the Uptown Cafe, but I do remember good Karma. Different incarnations of the same thing?
Was the factory later reinvented as Rafters? Hendrix was a little before my time.
In the same neighborhood, remember "Snoopy's" and the "Red Baron" across the street from each other?
Remember when state street had houses on it? When practically every block had a head shop, a waterbed store, and a stereo store? What more does one need in life?
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