My Original Home Town, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

St. Agnes Hospital, Where I Was Born in 1946

I was born and raised in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. I lived there until I left for the University of Wisconsin, Madison, at the age of 18, in 1965. And, I realize -- although I've only returned a few times in the last forty years -- that Fond du lac has left its imprint upon me.

Here's an interesting fact: Fond du Lac was recently named the "Safest City in America." That designation also reflects my memory of a very wholesome and safe place to grow up. I'm grateful for the education I received there and for my fond childhood memories.

"Fond du Lac" is French for "foot of the lake" -- because the city is situated on the south end of Lake Winnebago -- the second-largest, fresh water, inland lake within the United States.



So, activities like boating, fishing and swimming in the lake were a normal part of my childhood. I also have memories of huge swarms of lake flies.

The city has changed a lot since I left. Population has grown from about 29,000 to 42,000. There is a new high school. (I believe that L.P. Goodrich H.S., from which I graduated, no longer exists.) There is even a new college, a branch of the University of Wisconsin. The old "Beer Hut" -- where I used to hang out -- was torn down in 1972.



One of my recollections of growing up in Fond du Lac was that it was almost a patriotic duty to drink lots of beer on weekends (and lots of milk during the week). We didn't have seatbelts then, nor airbags, nor headrests on our cars. I remember the day vividly when six students (in the class ahead of mine) were killed while driving to their senior class banquet.

Speaking of the senior class banquet, one of the highlights of my life in Fond du lac was serving (at the request of my friend senior class president, Lowell Louis) as the master of ceremonies for the class of 1965 banquet. I remember introducing the school principal by saying that "Mr. Nelson really isn't bald -- he just has a six inch part in his hair." I also served as an editor on the staff of the student newspaper, and wrote a column called "The Mishing Link."



My Dad owned a furniture store in Fond du Lac -- Hy Mishlove's Home Furnishings. He advertised widely on television's channel 2 (out of Green Bay), as the "Furniture King of the Fox River Valley." So, even though we lived in relatively humble circumstances, I sometimes thought of myself as the "furniture prince." I didn't see much of my dad, growing up, as he was something of a workaholic. He pioneered the concept of a furniture store that was open on evenings and weekends. Once I turned 16, however, and started driving, I worked for him delivering furniture.

I went to summer camp at Camp Shaginappi on Lake Winnebago. That was a Boy Scout camp -- and, at the tender age of 15, became a camp counselor there. Also, my sister, Pamela, and I both went to Camp Anokigic, "on the shores of Little Lake Elkhart."



As a Jewish youth, growing up in a small, Wisconsin city, I felt that I was living a double life. I had one identity, and one set of friends, associated with my public school. There were 500 members of my graduating class at Goodrich H.S. Only three of us were Jewish. But, I was also active in the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization. And, spent a lot of time engaged in activities with Jewish youth from other small cities throughout the state. I became very active in this organization -- eventually becoming an officer of "District Six" that comprised six states and three Canadian provinces. This was a very vibrant life that my non-Jewish high school friends were, basically, unaware of.



In 1964, the country was going through a folk music fad -- and it became an important part of my life. A group of my high school classmates formed the Lindy Mike Singers (shown above). You can see me, at the tender age of 17, in the lower left, playing my baritone ukelele. Our high school band was invited to Washington, DC, to perform at the inauguration parade for Lyndon B. Johnson. So, to help them raise money for this trip, the Lindy Mike singers held our first and only concert in the auditorium of Roosevelt Junior High School. About 1000 people attended. It was another highlight of my young life.

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