Author: Stu Levitan

Madison made civil rights history in 1963 by adopting the first fair housing ordinance in the state

Thanks to a conservative white mayor, two forceful Black leaders, two pioneering women, a helpful city attorney, strong support from both city newspapers and a vast citizens’ support network, Madison made civil rights history in 1963 by adopting the state’s first open housing ordinance.

Thanks to a conservative white mayor, two forceful Black leaders, two pioneering women, a helpful city attorney, strong support from both city newspapers and a vast citizens’ support network, Madison made civil rights history in 1963 by adopting the state’s first open housing ordinance.

The ripple effect of JFK in Madison

Sixty years ago, Sen. John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign drew huge crowds and dramatically altered local politics.

Riot in the Streets: Looking back 50 years at the Mifflin Street Block Party riots of 1969

A block party devolved into chaos

May 3, 1969 — a Saturday night spring block party in the student neighborhood called "Miffland" turns into a three-night riot.

1967: The summer of our discontent

Monumental moments that riveted Madison in 1967

Madison had its share of sex, drugs and rock and roll in 1967—but it also had riots, racial tension and a pivotal protest, plus governmental failure, labor strife and a tragedy of international note.

Madisonians who died from war in 1967

Lost members of the Madison community

Lost members of the Madison community who died from wars in 1967.

A UW dateline from 1967

Huge happenings at the university

During 1967, there were huge happenings at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

A timeline: Law and disorder in 1967

The Madison Police Department stayed busy in 1967

The Madison Police Department stayed busy in the year of 1967.

Speaking for the trees in 1967

A ban on DDT for Dutch elm disease

In 1967, the year the Environmental Defense Fund was formed with the goal of banning DDT, that the Parks Commission and Board of Estimates both voted to resume its use, recommending the city spend $8,400 to spray 10,000 of the 27,000 city-owned trees from helicopters.

1967 City happenings

Camp Indianola closes

There were many city happenings in 1967, including the closing of Camp Indianola.

A divide in the Common Council

Budget crisis wreaks havoc

Madison city government failed at one of its fundamental tasks in 1967, ending the year without an adopted 1968 budget. It was, one alder said, “the city’s darkest moment.”

School daze of 1967

Tracking the changes in education

Here are the monumental changes in education during 1967.

Developing Schenk-Atwood

Starting Madison's boom in commercial development

The development of Schenk-Atwood started Madison's boom in commercial development.

A notable necrology of 1967

White, Steenbock among those lost

McBurney, Steenbock among those lost

The race for mayor in 1967

Festge's narrow victory

On Election Night 1967, Mayor Otto Festge was only ahead by about 30 votes with just one precinct left to report.

1967 labor struggles

Two strikes shut down construction and busing

Two big labor strikes in 1967 shut down construction and busing at the time.

Time to tear down

Red Gym seen as relic of the past

In 1967, the university's Red Gym/Armory was just an old building in bad shape that was going to be torn down. But today, it is a national and local landmark.

Getting the terrace Wright

An attempt to modify Monona's basin

No building since the Capitol has meant more to Madison than Frank Lloyd Wright’s Monona Terrace, and no building ever meant more to Wright.

Crossing the causeway

Cars take the trip over Lake Monona

Railroads have been crossing the Monona straits since 1854. Starting in 1967, cars could, too.

15 web extras: The summer of 1967

More monumental moments from 1967

Nineteen sixty-seven was quite a year, with effects still felt today. Here are the web extras, supplementary to the main story, 1967: The summer of our discontent.